Relief for customs clearing agents

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has extended the period within which customs clearing agents are expected to renew their licences to January 31.

In a recent statement, Zimra said the review had been necessitated by the breakdown of the automated system for customs data (Asycuda-World plus).

Read the statement: “Please be advised that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has extended the period for renewal for licensing of clearing agents from 31 December, 2017 to 31 January, 2018.

“This has been necessitated by the challenges being experienced with Asycuda.

“All clients whose applications have been approved are encouraged to go ahead and pay the 2018 licences fees through the respective Zimra stations.”

The authority said all active clearing agents, whose applications for renewal for 2018 are being processed, will not be deactivated after the December 31 deadline.

Zimra said the agents with outstanding obligations should approach the organisation for regularisation.

The country’s customs authority recently reverted to processing imports and exports of commercial goods manually after technicians failed to resuscitate Asycuda-World plus, which broke down in November last year.

The new development has resulted in Zimra clearing an average of 100 trucks per day, down from about 500 trucks a day.