Zimbabwean law-enforcement authorities are clamping down on truck drivers coerced by smugglers distributing contraband into the interior, with serious repercussions for transporters who could find themselves targeted for supposedly carrying illicit goods.
According to Mike Fitzmaurice of the Transit Assistance Bureau (Transist), the ‘shipping’ of contraband happens at borders like Beitbridge, where illegal traders corrupt couriers into the practice of smuggling stock into Zimbabwe.
Some of the contraband is also smuggled into Zimbabwe by people crossing the river on foot.
“We know of a certain truck park – immediately north of the border – where goods are being assembled for movement north into Zim.”
Fitzmaurice said it used to be the case that buses were used to smuggle goods among the luggage of passengers, but authorities got wise to it.
“Now they seem to have switched to logistics, thinking that law enforcement won’t suspect trucks that have been cleared for cargo heading into Zim.”
He said because some drivers were susceptible to bribes, trucks that had passed customs on both sides of Beitbridge were loaded with contraband before proceeding on their journeys.
In some cases, drivers stopped at Masvingo, halfway between Beitbridge and Harare, have been found carrying undocumented goods in the cab, resulting in the seizure of the truck. This leaves the transporter in a predicament where they must try and prove their non-involvement in the incident, and if failing to do so, face heavy penalties.
He said Transist had become aware of an increasing amount of road freight checks at Masvingo and entry points into Harare and Bulawayo.
“The unfortunate consequence is that transporters are now being targeted. We’re working on a particular case where we are requesting the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to exonerate a transporter based on proof of their non-involvement in the smuggling.
“We understand that some drivers are falling prey to smuggling as it appears to be easy money, but it serves no purpose to target transporters.
“We’re appealing to Zimra’s Enforcement Teams and Anti-Smuggling Units to focus more on the source of smuggling rather than disrupting the supply chain of goods through and into Zimbabwe.”
