Reminder: Civil Servants can import vehicles duty-free

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second hand vehicles 10 years license, second hand car ban ZIMRA

Our esteemed government has unleashed so many harsh Statutory Instruments on us sometimes it’s hard to remember the cheerful ones. For example, we can all recall the pain of SI 127 of 2021 and the chaos it brought. If you mention ex-Japs or secondhand vehicles everyone groans because they are very much aware of the de facto ban that was Statutory Instrument 89 of 2021.

Importation of Second-Hand Motor Vehicles which are 10 years and above from the date of manufacture will now require consideration for import licences. This measure is in line with the NDS1, which underscores value addition and encourages effective standards, regulations and use of road-worthy vehicles that meet environmental and safety standards. 2.2 Commercial vehicles (tractors, haulage trucks. earth moving equipment) and other specialised vehicles used in mining and construction sectors shall be exempted. 2.3 Importation of Sugar and Cement will also require consideration for import licences. Sweets are exempted from import licence requirement.

The gutpunch provision in S89 of 2021

Statutory Instrument 89 of 2021 was quite a gut punch. It effectively banned the importation of cheap ex-Jap cars that were more than 10 years old. The effect on the second-hand car market was instant. Prices doubled overnight and even ZIMRA noticed the shift as revenue dropped.

Civil servants can still import second hand vehicles without paying duty

We have been whirled so many times on the Statutory Instrument rollercoaster we have been turned into amnesiacs. While everyone remembers the senseless ban on second-hand vehicles not many people remember Statutory Instrument 52 of 2019. As a result, not many people are taking advantage of it.

Thankfully we recently got confirmation from the government that the law is still very much valid. Under SI 52 of 2019 civil servants who have been in the employ of the government for 10+ years are entitled to import a vehicle duty-free. They are just two restrictions that are the vehicle has to be worth US$10 000 or less and each civil servant is only allowed to import one vehicle every five years. That sounds reasonable to me as the life or an ex-Jap that is serviced and maintained well is about five years.

The existence and validity of the law was recently confirmed by the government’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public service, Labour and Social Welfare Simon Masanga in state media. I mean nothing says official like state media right?

It’s very true that the Government has continued the rebate on motor vehicle scheme for civil servants. That is one of the non-monetary benefits for civil servants.

Civil servants requested that it be continued. The Public Service Commission and the Treasury agreed to continue with the programme until further notice.

Permanent Secretary Masanga

Now here is the problem with patchwork provisions that come in the form of Statutory Instruments instead of comprehensive acts. It’s not clear whether civil servants are allowed to import cars that are more than 10 years old. I would venture out to say they are probably not but one never knows with these things.

In any case, if you are a civil servant who qualifies for this rebate you can actually save a bit of money when importing a vehicle. Generally, ZIMRA charges as much as 100% on top of the assumed value of each vehicle. It means you will end up importing the car for roughly half the usual cost!

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32 comments

  1. tjaymac

    But for a law abiding civil servant to raise that amount inokwana exjap without the duty is still a hurdle

  2. Masayoshi

    The process is too long and disgusting . Can sumthing be done to speed up the process .

  3. Edward Edgar

    Which type of vehicles can civil servants import,under this rebate? Are there vehicles which they can not import, if yes, what are the examples of these vehicles?

    1. tafadzwa

      they just dont want commercial vehicles,combis and trucks but private vehicles..

  4. Conwell Muzanenhamo

    I wanna import a 2007 Corolla,can it be duty free …gvt should not forget the fact that a vehicle 10 years n below tends to be above our reach

    1. tafadzwa

      it will not qualify vanoda from 2011zvichikwira..whatsaapp +27643342527

  5. Gerald Mashoko

    When is the dead line for this scheme?

  6. Tatenda Mugaviri

    Weduwe handichaziva zvekuita mapepa anonoka so mota yasvika and thy say it can takes further 2 weeks , pane angazivawo here kuti storage imari per day at the border ?

    1. tafadzwa

      storage is 60us pa1st 2days then kana raday rechi3 inege yakubhadhara maextra20us

  7. etee

    someone wants to give me an audi 2012 model as a gift, does it qualify on duty free model? what is needed on this kind of process?

  8. Fansen Moyo

    Are civil servants have only to import cars from Japan or also from SA? If so this 10 years restriction also apply?

    1. tafadzwa

      everywhere

  9. tafadzwa

    storage is 60us pa1st 2days then kana raday rechi3 inege yakubhadhara maextra20us

    1. Anonymous

      W

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  11. Juliet

    10 years is from date of manufacture to when? Date of invoice or panosvika mota?

  12. Manyongori

    Can a civil servant buy a vehicle in a bonded warehouse under the provisions of SI 52 of 2019?

  13. Shiee

    Ko Civil Servants Anoda Driver’s Licence Here For Purchase And Free Duty

  14. Eeee

    Hi, can civil servants pensioneers, qualify for free duty rebate

  15. Mutanda Virginia Rumbidzai

    Can civil servants pensioners qualify for duty free.

  16. Danny

    Tafadzwa gara zviya mota dzirikubvumirwa now ndedzegore ripi

  17. Peter

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  18. Desmond

    Good people, ndaita problem riri kuda mari ASAP the only thing that raise this money is this car l recently bought last year via rebate. Now my question is, can l sell the car and also how do l go about it

    1. Pretty Nduna

      Morning good people I want to ask is duty free still there for civil servants

      1. TshilamoyA

        Yes it s

        1. Nashe

          Hallo good people . I have found a 2014 2.0vvti Toyota hilux single cab. Does it meet the criteria for duty free rebate .

          1. Pipi

            Hi Nashe, did you manage kupinza mota yako ? Ndoda twin cab but I’m not sure kut inopinda here ne rebate

  19. Chuks

    Imagine a civil servant bought a vehicle for 3900 and is asked to pay excess of 3700 usd and 21 million rtgs is this still rebate

    1. Pipi

      Lol mayb they do not qualify for rebate yacho ka coz clearly hapana mari yakabviswa apo

  20. Anonymous

    Wants duty free yambopiwa inoexpire here coz yangu yakanonoka kuproceswa rebate ikaaccummulator macharges kuport takazoiburitsa but yava a month older than 10 years.Is the rebate still valid.If not valid what do l do coz in principle the gvt is saying l own a duty free vehicle Can it be cancelled

  21. Robson

    Wants duty free yambopiwa inoexpire here coz yangu yakanonoka kuproceswa rebate ikaaccummulator macharges kuport takazoiburitsa but yava a month older than 10 years.Is the rebate still valid.If not valid what do l do coz in principle the gvt is saying l own a duty free vehicle Can it be cancelle

  22. magandela

    100% duty is inhuman to citizens

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