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SusPAS for Zimbabwe

Sustainable Poverty Alleviating Solution (SusPAS Dream Project)

At present, many of us are trapped. We continue to “give a man a fish and feed him for a day”. We need to “teach the man to fish….” so that he can feed for a lifetime.

The SusPAS Dream Project is a ‘dream’ collection of practical ‘Sustainable Poverty Alleviating Solutions’ packaged together for a large family or village. The project will help them generate cash too! Goodbye food handouts: Welcome the ‘people’s pride and dignity’!

Having a self sufficient extended family back in Zimbabwe will save you even more as you won’t have to send them so much cash in the future.

We recommend investing in one or more of the solutions featured, perhaps for a village (e.g. based around a school). You could achieve instant cult status!

Your Questions (& Answers)

This section has been added in response to an increasing number of Zimbabweans asking for advice from their fellow Zimbabweans. The subjects vary: most relate to returning home and importation of vehicles (returning residents,)

Please browse or scroll to the bottom of the page and enter any new questions you might have. We will display your questions and update when an answer is received.

Search the FAQ:

born in zim, school life... left for the uk 7 years ago. Now wanting to return permanently to live and work in Zimbabwe. what documents are required to obtain residence stamp?"
Jan. 4, 2012 by Brett Wright, uk
You inform them on arrival and they will tell you what to do. Its the duty free rebate that demands a lot of documents (pay slips, evidence of termination of employment, etc).

hi guys As a returning reident will i be effected when i return home with a car that is older then five years,
May. 6, 2011 by Paidamoyo Mpofu
Rules keek changing. Please check withZIMRA and the local Zim embabssy

Hie Guyz I am returning back home from Mozambique were I was working. My company was South african operating in mozambique. Which work permit is required by Zimra as a returning resident.I dont have a sa permit as i was in Mozambique and the mozambican goverment only issues 3 monthly work permits that need to be renewed. help MAZANO
Feb. 28, 2011 by Mazano
I beleive it will have to be the Mozambiquean permit. Its not about who owns the company that employed you. Its no different from having a Nigerian work for Barclays Bank (a British owned company) in Harare. He/she will need a permit from the Zim government.

Good luck.
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I AM A RETURNING RESIDENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENQUIRE IF I AM ABLE TO BUY A NEW CAR IN ZIMBABWE DUTY FREE?
Jul. 7, 2011 by ANAN MATAMA, london
See this article: http://www.teamzimbabwe.org/immigrants-rebate/
Good luck.
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I AM A RETURNING RESIDENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENQUIRE IF IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BUY A NEW CAR IN ZIMBABWE DUTY FREE PLEASE HELP.
Jul. 7, 2011 by ANNA MATAMA, LONDON
No - you have to buy the car before you return home (you need to have owned the car for over 6 months)

Good luck.
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I am about to complete my studies in Cyprus. Being a country with the highest cost of living, Cyprus’s freight duty to Africa when bringing a car without occupying the whole container will be the same (if not less) than the cost of buying a car in Durban. Approximate freight charges=$1, 928 + $500 or more carriage costs to the Zimbabwean boarder. Again if you get to consider the type of car you are shipping surely you will find it cheaper to buy an ex-jap in Durban and pay import duty because ndiwayo ma ex-jap atinongoshandisawo kuno except that kuno anodhura than anywhere else in the world I guess. I am not saying we don’t need that free duty as students but zvinotidzosera kumashure where as vaye vari pedyo neyika vasingade ma freight duties they get to benefit a lot. Only if you are bringing a much later model of a b.m.w surely you get to benefit as returning resident. All I am asking is that tipewo weduwo mukana wekutengesa mota dzedu kuno, bring the money and buy a car in Durban topindawo nadzo as returning students nekuti those are the very same cars we use kuno except that kuno you get to buy a Toyota corona premio 97 model for euros4000 2nd hand ($5,650.71) + $1,928 freight duty + $500 carriage to border and that gives us a total of roughly $7,678.71 paka mere Toyota premio chete. Had it been that I was studying in South Africa, with that amount dai ndakatenga a very good vw polo yangu isina akamboshandisa and bring it home zvakanaka. Tibatsireiwo isu vamwe tiri mhiri kwemakungwa tikwanise kutengerawo mota ku s.a yopindawo zvakana haikona kuzvitambudza uye nemari dzakawandisa kubvakuno, tiri ma students wo and we must bring something home.
Apr. 2, 2011 by Darel
Sorry, none of us are able to advise on this. You do raise some valid points and we can only hope that someone with the power to make decisions will listen.

Perhaps other readers might be able to advise. Best wishes.
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I AM PLANNING TO BRING A 2003 (8 YEARS OLD CAR) AS A RETURNING CITIZEN WILL I BE ALLOWED TO BRING IT IN OR IS IT TOO OLD?---ACCORDING TO THE NEW REGULATIONS.
Apr. 23, 2011
Check with the embassy as rules keep changing

I entered the then Rhodesia in 1972 as a 12year with my parents and left again in 1983. I was issued with a metal id card. What is my standing now, should I wish to return? Am I considered to be a returning resident. I don't know if I automatically became a citizen due to the age I was when I arrived in Zimbabwe..I know that I never applied for a Zimbabwe passport..
Jul. 25, 2011
As a general guide, Zim does not allow dual citizenship, so you won't be a returning resident (while carrying a foreign passport). You better check with the embassy as to what options you may have should you wish to return.

I have been working in SA since 2006 and wish to import a vehicle for my wife who is resident in Zimbabwe.I have a workers permit.Can i import a car as a returning resident or i have to wait until my contract expires.
Apr. 20, 2011 by Nkosinathi Ncube, South Africa Gauteng
You can only import a car for yourself when you return (as a returning resident). You madam is not a returning resident and she has to pay duty.

There are other conditions you need to satisfy, including a letter confirming termination of employment - which won't apply to your case.

Good luck.
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I have heard reports that Zimbabweans who are studying (those who haven’t completed their degrees) in South Africa can buy ex-japanese vehicles, register them in Zimbabwe and use them in South Africa without paying import duty. Is it true or not? Is there a way where those who are still studying in South Africa can buy ex-Japanese cars from Durban and use them in South Africa pending completion of their studies, without paying duty for those vehicles? Please advice
Feb. 28, 2011 by Beggaz
You will need to confirm this with South Africa customs.

Our understanding is that South Africa do not allow the use of these vehicles within South Africa. This has been their position for sometime and is meant to protect the local car industry.

You can buy a vehicle and register it in Zimbawe but will be liable to pay duty in Zim since you are not returning yet (you are not a returning resident). Once the car is registered and kept in Zimbabwe, you are then allowed to drive it into South Africa, just like any Zimbabwean can. How long you are then allowed to keep the car in SA? Don’t know.

If you move your car into Zim duty free (as a returning resident), the Zimbabwe customs people will pay you some visits to ensue you still have the car (at your Zim address). You are not allowed to sell the car for a stipulated period.

It is a bit complicated: please check with the customs from both countries.
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May someone please tell me how many cars are allowed duty free as a returning resident. I am married and has been staying out of the country for three years with my family.
Mar. 16, 2011 by Davis Nhedzi, Gaborone
One for you, and one for the wife. Total 2 cars for the family.
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My work permit is less than a month, but I want to go back to Zimbabwe as a returning resident. My car has been registered in SA for more than 6 months in my name. I have been in SA from 2008 going back in December each year. What do I need to qualify for duty free.
Apr. 8, 2011 by OBED, RSA/KZN
Read the article here: www.teamzimbabwe.org/returning-residents/ as well as the one on rebates. Otherwise, you could try and contact ZIMRA direct.

Good luck.
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Please can you inform me, I am a Zimbabwe resident, and have a work permit in Mozambique. My work requires me to travel through Zimbabwe to South Africa and back: Do I need a TIP for this period? I will be driving a Mozambique vehicle.
Feb. 28, 2011 by Heather M
From my experience, you do need a TIP whenever you are taking a car temporarily into Zim. That applies whether its your own car or hire car. I have hired cars from South Africa multiple times and have always needed to do that. You get the TIP at the boarder.

Tendai
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Please could someone give me advise. I have been living in the UK for 10 years and am returning to Zimbabwe on holiday as a returning resident with a car duty free. I intend to come back an live in the UK after my holiday and am concerned that I may not be allowed back in the UK if ZIMRA put RR in my passport. Please could someone advise me.
Jun. 30, 2011 by Charlie N
You will therefore not be considered a Returning resident in Zim, and you will have to pay duty: thats where you will face problems. Getting back to the UK should not be a problem - as long as all is in order there.

Very well said, but transcripts and certificates usually come 5 to 6 months after the final exam. Do I have to wait another 5-6 months before the certificate/transcript comes to be eligible for the free duty?. If not, what other proof can I present to ZIMRA?. Ndabonga.
Feb. 28, 2011 by Natty
You should be treated like anyone else who has lived outside for more than 2 years. You will tell them on arrival that you are a returning resident, and fill relevant forms to this effect. Later, for clearance of your property, you will present your passport and other necessary documents (pay slips etc), and they will inspect your passport to confirm the time away. Your transcript is not needed for this as it doesn't really prove you have been away that long.
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What is ZIMRA’s position regarding the PERMANENT importation of foreign registered vehicles by returning students? Panoda duty futi here apa? Please advise. Thanks in advance.
Feb. 28, 2011 by Natty
As many are asking the same question, we have added an article from ZIMRA about this. Its HERE: www.teamzimbabwe.org/returning-residents.

Basically, if you have been out for at least 2 years, and are going back home as a “returning resident”, then you are allowed to take your car into the country duty free. There are certain things they need, such as proof that the car has been yours for a certain amount of time plus your payslips as proof that you could indeed afford to buy a car!
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ZIMRA requirements are clear on a minimum 2 years out of country for a returning resident and on not being able to import a second vehicle within 4 years of the first. What is the minimum period that a returning resident must remain in Zimbabwe after importing a vehicle before being able to take up a new position overseas?
Apr. 5, 2011 by Bill Scarr
"Any goods brought in under rebate should not be disposed of for a period of two years and the resident is not to leave the country in the two years following their arrival into the country. In the event that they want to permanently relocate to another country during that period they should notify ZIMRA so that they either pay their rebated duties or that they export the goods that were brought in under rebate."

See the article: http://www.teamzimbabwe.org/immigrants-rebate/

Good luck.
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