Govt suspends duty for approved importers

Published: 07 April 2014

Government through the ministry of Finance and Economic Development has scraped duty on a number of imported products for identified importers, in a move that is widely expected to give reprieve to the importers.

Last Friday, Finance and Economic Development minister Patrick Chinamasa suspended duty on powdered milk, flour, and bottler grade sugar.

The duty scrap on powdered milk is with effect from January 1 until the end of the year.

The approved powdered milk importers eligible for suspension of duty are Kefalos Cheese Products, Dairibord Zimbabwe, Lyons, Den Dairy, Nestle Zimbabwe Alpha Omega and Probrands.

"Any powdered milk to be entered under the suspension of duty provided for in these regulations shall be entered for consumption at the port of entry of the approved importers choice…..

"Subject to these regulations the approved powdered milk importer shall imported the powdered milk free of duty," Chinamasa announced the measures in latest Government Gazette.

The minister has also with effect from January and until June this year suspended duty on bottler grade sugar for Schweppes Zimbabwe (2 000 mt), Delta Beverages (1 200 mt), and Mutare Bottling Company (180" mt).

Thirteen bread makers and bakeries have also been approved to import a combined 4 170 mettric tonnes of wheat free of duty.

Chinamasa said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority commissioner will not grant rebate of duty to an approved importer, on the basis of non-compliance, or when the importer does not have a valid permit and or when the product exceeds the duty free amount.

Delta Corporation Limited company Secretary Alex Makamure said the developments were in accordance with the 2014 national budget statement.
- Zim mail