Plumtree, (New Ziana) – Smuggling and illicit trade poses a serious threat to revenue, public health and economy in general, a senior government official has said.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, David Mnangagwa said this at commemorations marking International Customs Day in Plumtree.
The event was held under the theme “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment”.
The theme resonates with the country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030 agenda.
“While government continued to apply targeted customs and domestic tax incentives to support productive sectors, regional trade and industrialisation, smuggling and illicit trade remains serious threats to revenue, public health and economic stability,” Mnangagwa said.
He said the interception of over 4 000 illicit consignments smuggled into the country last year demonstrates both the scale of the challenge and the vigilance of customs administration in protecting the national economy.
“In response, government has prioritised intelligence-led, risk-based and technology-enabled border management, including reforms such as the Electronic Tariff Platform, upgrades to ASYCUDA World and the rollout of the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window.
“These reforms are transforming border management into a more integrated, efficient and transparent system that improves detection of illicit activity, reduces clearance times and enhances compliance,” he added.
He said borders were no longer just geographical markers but strategic gateways that determine a country’s economic competitiveness, security and long-term development.
“In today’s global economy, the efficiency of our borders directly determines the competitiveness of our nation,” Mnangagwa said.
He said customs administrations had evolved beyond enforcement roles to become strategic enablers of trade, investment, domestic resource mobilisation and national security, adding that the mandate is being executed with increasing effectiveness by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Customs and Excise Division.
He said last year, total national revenue collections reached US$7,6 billion, with customs-related taxes contributing about 31 percent of the total.
“This underscores the central role of our borders not only in facilitating trade and travel, but also in financing public services and national infrastructure,” he said.
Mnangagwa attributed the strong performance to increased adoption of electronic transactions, improved collections from customs duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) on imports and excise, as well as enhanced compliance and enforcement measures.
Importantly, he noted, the gains were achieved alongside sustained efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, demonstrating that revenue mobilisation and trade facilitation were complementary pillars of modern customs administration.
He implored ZIMRA to continue simplifying procedures and expanding trusted trader programmes, particularly for compliant cross-border traders, to decongest borders and allow customs to focus on high-risk activities.
Mnangagwa described the Beitbridge, Plumtree, Chirundu and Forbes border posts as “economic arteries” linking Zimbabwe to regional and continental value chains.
New Ziana
