ZIMBABWE has waived customs duties on critical imports in the transport, mining and tourism sectors, effective 1 January 2026.
Under Statutory Instrument (SI) 237 of 2025, gazetted last week, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube introduced new tax relief measures and extended existing duty suspensions on essential imports, including public service buses, mining chemicals and vehicle assembly kits.
The Government has suspended duty on new public service buses with a seating capacity of at least 60 passengers. Under the new regulations, electric buses will attract zero percent duty, while diesel and petrol-powered buses will be subject to an effective rate of 10 percent.
To qualify, bus operators must be registered with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and hold a valid tax clearance certificate. The regulations prohibit the sale of imported buses within five years without written authority and payment of the previously suspended duties.
“The commissioner (of Zimra) may authorise the disposal of a public service bus on payment of such duty, not exceeding the amount of duty suspended, as he or she thinks fit, if, in his or her opinion, the public service bus cannot be economically used for the purpose for which it was entered under suspension.
“Duty suspended on a public service bus, which is accidentally destroyed before being used in the approved importer’s business, may be remitted if the commissioner is satisfied that every reasonable effort was made and precaution taken to prevent its destruction,” the regulations state.
The tourism sector also received a boost, with Government extending duty-free importation of specified motor vehicles by safari and tour operators. The extension runs for two years, from January 2026 to December 31, 2027.
To promote local car production, Government introduced zero percent duty on Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) motor vehicle kits imported by approved assemblers. The suspension aims to encourage local assembly of passenger vehicles, provided assemblers maintain secure storage facilities and detailed stock-books for Zimra inspection.
The mining industry will benefit from duty suspensions on essential materials used in mineral extraction, including oils for gold flotation and various chemical substances used in refining or research. Mining houses must sign a declaration ensuring these materials are used solely for their intended industrial purposes.
Further provisions in the SI address the agricultural export sector and vehicle maintenance. Customs duty is suspended on materials used in preparing and packaging fresh produce for export. A new suspension has also been granted for parts and accessories intended for repairing or refurbishing public transport vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers.-herald
