The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has said that the upgrade of it import duty system ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) is now complete. This means that the system can now accept duty in both local and foreign currency.

There have been technical challenges regarding the clearance of goods where duties are paid in both foreign and local currency on one Bill of Entry.

The excise duty is payable in local currency and the customs duty in foreign currency. In light of this, the ASYCUDA system has been configured to accept clearance of designated excisable goods where amounts payable are charged in foreign currency and part in local currency

ZIMRA Official

Back in 2018 the government passed Statutory Instrument (SI) 252A of November 2018 which empowered the government to collect duty for certain products in foreign currency. According to ZIMRA those bringing in goods into Zimbabwe now have to complete two forms instead of one:

  • EXC2 for goods whose duty is to be paid in local currency and
  • IM4 for goods whose duty is to be paid in foreign currency

It’s not clear how the officials were handling duty paid in foreign currency before the upgrade.