In a move designed to enhance efficient and effective trade facilitation, Forbes Border post opened a 24-hour facility on 15 January 2024. The development has come at a time when congestion had been experienced between the Forbes and Machipanda Border Post and will therefore aid in increasing traffic flow and de-congesting the border.

Mr Batsirayi Chadzingwa, the ZIMRA Commissioner Customs and Excise expressed satisfaction on ZIMRA’s is preparedness to operate the 24hour facility.

“As ZIMRA we are ready to operate 24hours at this border as this is not the first time to have a border running 24hours. Our staff members are ready to quick-start the project. Yes, we have some constraints in terms of resources, but we can do with what we have to ensure that we deliver on this mandate. We also need to look at the benefit of having a 24-hour border post as it allows the continuous movement of trucks. Over the past few years, we have heard reports of travellers queuing for almost 13km waiting on either side of the border to be cleared when we were closing at 10pm, ” he said.

The new system has aligned the process of physical verifications of goods cleared on Bills of Entry to become a 24-hour operation. The border operates 24 hours per day, on three (3) shifts working arrangement compared to the previous single 14 hour shift per day. The new arrangement has added 10 more hours thereby lengthening effective business working time to 24 hours per day. Trucks continue moving as they are cleared non-stop. All serving officers from different government departments operate around the clock now, including clearing agents.

Commenting on the facility, Regional Immigration Officer Mr Richard Tambandini revealed that everything was in place for the system to succeed.

“Our system is in place and no challenges were encountered. We recorded 22 entries into the country and 83 exits from 10pm. We expect volumes to increase with time as people become accustomed to the new development.” he said.

Traditionally, the physical movement of goods across the border has been done between 6am to 10pm, this way lesser number of trucks crossed the border compared to the number relating to Bills of Entry documents processed online in Asycuda per day and it always resulted in congestion. The two countries will reap the benefit from this facility which will increase volume of trade, productivity and capital inflow.  The border serves almost half of the SADC region and is clearing about 550 haulage trucks every day.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) fostered a major partnership by signing a memorandum of agreement with Zimbabwe Investment Authority(ZIDA) on 12 January 2024 in Harare. The MOU aims to enhance Ease of doing Business and to facilitate domestic and foreign investment in Zimbabwe.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two entail a one stop Investment centre which encompasses integration of electronic services and investor-related services. The agreement also provides a platform for information exchange on Investor Tax incentives and Tax obligations. The parties also agreed to work together in formulating policies to promote ease of doing business and investment.

Making his remarks during the signing ceremony the ZIDA Chief Executive Officer Mr Tendai Chinamo highlighted that ZIDA already had an existing cordial relationship with ZIMRA.

“We are now committing ourselves to even higher standards, we are saying how can we become more efficient. When an investor comes generally most of the intervention has to do with tax obligations. We will also advise ZIMRA on policies that affect the entry retention and facilitation of investments and provide assistance to ZIMRA to enable it to perform its functions in terms of the legislation administered by ZIMRA,” he said.

In a statement during the same event the ZIMRA Commissioner General emphasized the Authority’s commitment to service. “The collaboration goes deeper to demonstrate that we want to serve and It’s incumbent on us to do what is necessary. We want to be proactive and the transparency signified by this MoU is a starting point. She added that ZIMRA is going to provide accurate, correct and timely information to the new investors, and it is going to create awareness in terms of the tax obligations that exist giving ZIMRA a pre-and post –investor experience. As we move forward it is important that even when you are working on investment policy, you also have adequate information in terms of monitoring and evaluation of the nature and quality of our investments. On our side, we also need information upfront to know who we are dealing with in order to enhance compliance.” She said.

The partnership between the two parties will consequently integrate their systems to achieve real-time log in of investor information and real-time processing of queries and issues that deal with promotion, protection and facilitation of investment in the country. Commenting during the same event Theresa Machingura, the Chief Legal Officer stressed on the benefits of integrating the two systems which would increase efficiency. She further indicated that the clearly defined roles of the two parties in the MOU, would be in the best interest of the investor.

 “The collaboration aims to ensure Zimbabwe becomes a destination of choice” said Machingura.

The following document describes the onboarding processes for existing taxpayers into the TaRMS system of ZIMRA. The document is addressed to the existing taxpayers of Zimbabwe who are going to continue their taxation operations using the newly designed Self-Service Portal (hereafter SSP) of Tax and Revenue Management System of ZIMRA. Click link the following link to download the guide Guide on Existing Taxpayers' Onboarding to ZIMRA TaRMS System

ZIMRA, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, is now ready to significantly transform tax administration with the introduction of the Tax and Revenue Management System (TaRMS). TaRMS is scheduled to go live on 12 October 2023. The new tax solution, TaRMS, promises to revolutionize the way taxes are managed and collected in Zimbabwe.

This state-of-the-art system will streamline processes, enhance accuracy, and provide taxpayers with a user-friendly platform for seamless interaction with ZIMRA. Taxpayers can expect TaRMS to simplify registration, enhance online services, provide real-time tracking of tax obligations, and automate compliance checks.

The temporary suspension of new taxpayer registrations and master data updates from 9 to 11 October 2023 will pave the way for existing taxpayers to receive their new Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) and seamlessly integrate into the TaRMS system. ZIMRA is committed to providing comprehensive guidance and support to ensure a smooth transition to TaRMS.

As the go-live date of 12 October 2023 approaches, ZIMRA invites all taxpayers to familiarize themselves with TaRMS and prepare for the change it brings. Under TaRMS, ZIMRA aims to create a modernized tax system that meets the needs of taxpayers and efficiently supports the nation's revenue collection efforts.

ZIMRA will continue to provide update and guidance, as we embark on this transformative journey toward a more streamlined and efficient tax ecosystem.

Don’t miss out! Invitation to a webinar on Rules of origin and the EU-ESA-EPA, A guide for Zimbabwe businesses. Tuesday 14th March 2023 1000 to 1230.

To access event click https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84171055498?pwd=eVVidFJBREJjcVI3QzRJbWhmQTJFdz09

Click picture below to access full magazine

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) prides itself on having a Board that has a pro-growth team of professionals at the strategic layer. The Board is driving the change agenda with precision and passion to mould a ZIMRA that is synonymous with efficiency and effectiveness, anchored on digital solutions and superior human capital.

The ZIMRA Board is led by the Board Chairman Mr. Antony Mandiwanza, an astute transformational leader who has over 30 years of traceable industry and corporate leadership. One of his many accolades is leading the privatisation of a publicly owned company into a vibrant entity that is now listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

The Board Chairman is deputised by Mrs. Josephine Matambo, an expert in the tax and audit field with an illustrious career spanning over four decades. She started her career in the then Department of Taxes. Mrs. Matambo brings a wealth of experience regarding the operations of tax administration. She is a member of the Audit and ICT Committees.

Mr. George Guvamatanga is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and an ex-officio member of the Board. The “Perm Sec”, as he is affectionately known, is a career banker with over 30 years of Banking experience specialising in Treasury and Corporate and Investment Banking. He is a member of the ZIMRA Operations and Audit Committees.

Mr. Memory Nguwi is a Registered Occupational Psychologist who brings on board critical human capital management expertise. Mr. Nguwi is the Chairman of the ZIMRA Human Resources Committee and also a member of the ZIMRA Finance and Administration Committee.

Mr. Isaac Kwesu has vast experience in research, economics, strategy, and policy analysis spanning over 15 years. He has lectured at various institutions in economics, corporate and public finance and is credited for his crucial input on indigenisation and mining policies. He is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Risk Committee.

Ms. Mutsa Remba is a registered Legal Practitioner, with over 16 years of experience in private practice. Her experience spans across commercial law, mining law, and financial services. She is the Chairperson of the Operations Committee and also a member of the Human Resources Committee.   

Mrs. Ruth Ncube is a versatile business leader with a distinguished record of implementing winning strategies and delivering business results. Mrs. Ncube is a winner of multiple prestigious honours awards in leadership, and in the Insurance sectors nationally and abroad. She is the Chairperson of the Risk Committee and also a member of the Finance and Administration and Human Resources Committees.  

Dr. Paradza Paradza is a seasoned Information and Communication (ICT) expert and governance professional with more than 20 years of international and domestic experience in managing ICT projects in the banking, manufacturing, mining, telecommunications, and education sectors. Dr. Paradza is the Chairman of the ICT Committee and also a member of the Risk and Operations Committees.

Dr. Grace Muradzikwa is a decorated insurance executive with over 37 years in the industry. She was the first woman to list and head a publicly traded company in the country, a position she held until 2019.  She is currently the Commissioner of Insurance, Pension and Provident Funds in Zimbabwe. Through her dedication and hard work, Dr. Muradzikwa has won several awards and served on various boards of local, regional and international institutions. She is the Chairperson of the Finance and Administration Committee and also a member of the Risk and Human Resources Committees.

Mr. Bongani Khumalo is a versatile economist with vast experience in the private and public sectors. He is an expert in the areas of fiscal policy research, economic analysis, and public finance. He served as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Rhodes University, and Witwatersrand University in the areas of Economics Principles, Trade Policy, Public Finance, and International Economics. He served at the Financial and Fiscal Commission in South Africa for 17 years including 8 years of which he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He is a member of the ICT and Finance and Administration Committees.

Mr. John Tandi Dewah is a veteran in public administration having served in Government for several years and rose to the rank of Chief Director. He brings a unique and invaluable perspective of public finance grounded in years of experience gleaned from government services, public entities and regional exposure. He is a member of the ICT and Audit Committees. 

Ms. Regina Chinamasa is an ex-officio member of the ZIMRA Board. She is a thoroughbred tax administrator having started her career in 1994 in the then-Department of Taxes. She rose through the ranks to the position of ZIMRA Commissioner General. She is a pro-action leader who subscribes to modernisation of processes for efficiency and effective service delivery. She is driving and inculcating a culture of execution within the Authority.