Agriculture
Maize, sugar, tea, citrus, dairy. Refrigerated and ambient loads, planned to keep markets stocked.
Learn more about AgricultureCustoms Clearance
Cleared correctly, moving sooner.
Import, export, and cross-border clearance support for Zimbabwe, with honest guidance on documents, duties, VAT, and the SA VAT "double duty" question.
Clear the border before it slows the cargo.
We check the shipment, prepare the declaration, and flag document or cost gaps early, so imports and exports move with fewer avoidable holds.
One customs team supports parcels, commercial cargo, project freight, and cross-border loads into and out of Zimbabwe.
Prepare the cargo before it meets customs.
Clearance works best when the record is complete before the cargo reaches the border: details checked, declaration prepared, and release requirements understood.
Verify the shipment
Confirm the commodity, origin, declared value, permits, route, and supporting documents.
Prepare the declaration
Align the document pack before the cargo reaches customs for assessment.
Coordinate release
Work through assessment, payment, information requests, and handover to keep cargo moving.
Practical expertise. Fewer avoidable delays.
One clearance team across the documents, decisions, cost awareness, and handovers that keep a shipment moving.
Import & export
Clearance guidance for inbound and outbound shipments.
Cross-border cargo
Support across Southern Africa’s major trade corridors.
Parcels & marketplaces
Courier, e-commerce, and marketplace parcel guidance.
Documents & costs
Preparation support plus duty, VAT, and clearance cost awareness.
Automotive
Deliveries for assembly plants and aftermarket spare-parts distribution across the region.
Learn more about Automotive
Beverages
Beer, soft drinks, bottled water. Pallet-loaded cross-border distribution from breweries to retail.
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Chemicals & Fertilisers
Mining reagents, industrial chemicals, urea, NPK fertiliser, moved with the documentation and packaging they require.
Learn more about Chemicals & Fertilisers
Cold Chain
Temperature-controlled freight for vaccines, produce, food and pharma, monitored from collection to delivery.
Learn more about Cold Chain
Construction
Structural steel, cement, prefab beams, scaffold, delivered across borders and rough terrain to active sites.
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Forestry & Timber
Pulp, sawn timber, paper. Heavy plantation freight from the Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa pulp belts to processing mills.
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Government & Public Sector
Tendered, documented freight for ministries, parastatals and donor programmes.
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Healthcare & Pharma
Medicines, vaccines, lab samples and medical equipment, handled to each consignment's requirements.
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Humanitarian & NGO
Disaster-response cargo for aid agencies: tents, blankets and food parcels, moved where they are needed.
Learn more about Humanitarian & NGO
Industrial Manufacturing
Raw materials in, finished machinery out. The industrial backbone, moved on road across the region.
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Mining
Copper, cobalt, chrome, manganese, base metals. Abnormal-load permits arranged across the Copperbelt corridor.
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Renewable Energy
Turbine blades, PV panels, batteries, inverters. Project freight to remote solar and wind installation sites.
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Retail & Fashion
Distribution-centre-to-store replenishment for chain retailers, with border paperwork prepared before the truck leaves.
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Technology
High-value electronics, servers, IT hardware, with chain-of-custody documentation at every handover.
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Telecommunications
Towers, masts, fibre, base-station equipment. Network roll-outs delivered to sites across the SADC region.
Learn more about Telecommunications
Tobacco
Zimbabwe and Malawi tobacco exports. Bales lifted from auction floors to port.
Learn more about Tobacco-
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Imports arrive with more than cargo.
Import clearance applies when goods enter Zimbabwe from South Africa, Mozambique, China, Dubai, the UK, USA, Europe, India, and other international suppliers or marketplaces.
Every import has a destination and a process. We help make the declaration, documents, and likely charge points clearer before release.
Prepare the cargo before it meets the border.
Clear information early reduces avoidable questions around classification, documentation, duties, VAT, and release.
Verify the shipment
Check commodity, origin, declared value, permits, and route.
Prepare the document pack
Align the invoice, packing details, transport documents, and supporting records.
Confirm the charge points
Understand duty, VAT, clearance, storage, or courier handling fees that may apply.
From a single parcel to commercial import cargo.
Support can extend across courier parcels, e-commerce orders, retail stock, machinery, materials, containers, and project cargo.
- Commercial imports and retail stock
- Courier and e-commerce parcels
- Marketplace, WooCommerce, and Shopify orders
- Machinery, spare parts, automotive parts, and electronics
- Chemicals, fertilizers, healthcare, and agricultural inputs
- Construction, mining, containerised, and project cargo
Zimbabwean cargo, ready for its next market.
Export clearance applies when goods leave Zimbabwe for South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, other SADC markets, and international destinations through regional ports.
We help organise the cargo detail, document pack, and corridor plan that connect an export to its destination.
Prepare the cargo before it leaves Zimbabwe.
Accurate product information and the right records help move an export through the border and on to its next market.
Confirm the cargo
Verify the commodity, destination, product detail, origin, and export readiness.
Build the export document pack
Prepare invoices, packing details, certificates, permits, declarations, and transport records.
Coordinate the corridor
Align transport, border handling, and port access for the movement ahead.
Move Zimbabwean products into regional and global markets.
Support can include commercial consignments, samples, containers, machinery, project cargo, and sector-specific exports.
- Agricultural products and fresh produce
- Tobacco, cotton, timber, and forestry products
- Mining cargo and industrial goods
- Beverages, retail stock, and commercial samples
- Machinery, containerised, and project cargo
- Cross-border commercial cargo
Regional corridor access
- Zimbabwe border posts
- Beitbridge
- Mutare / Forbes border
- Beira Corridor
- Plumtree to Botswana
- North–South Corridor
- Nyamapanda to Tete and Malawi
- Durban-linked routes
- Regional SADC destinations
The paperwork tells customs what the cargo cannot.
A clear document pack helps establish what is moving, where it came from, what it is worth, and whether specific requirements apply.
Accurate declarations reduce avoidable delays and make duty, VAT, and clearance conversations easier to understand.
Build the record before the cargo reaches the border.
Good information helps the right questions get answered earlier: what is it, what is it worth, where did it originate, and what rules apply?
Build the document pack
Keep invoices, packing details, transport documents, origin records, permits, and certificates together.
Declare the value correctly
Product classification, value, freight, insurance, origin, and assessment all influence duty and VAT.
Identify special requirements
Some goods need permits, certificates, inspections, or controlled-goods checks before clearance.
Core documents
Depending on the cargo and route, keep these ready.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of entry and transport note
- Bill of lading, air waybill, or road consignment note
- Freight, insurance, and origin documents
- Import, export, or controlled-goods permits where required
- Product, inspection, tax, or safety certificates where applicable
Goods needing special checks
These goods can need additional preparation or review.
- Medicines, medical supplies, chemicals, and fertilizers
- Food products, cosmetics, agricultural products, and seeds
- Animal products, batteries, electronics, and branded goods
- Alcoholic and tobacco products
- Used goods and high-value, restricted, or controlled goods
Double duty / double-charging warning
Some customers feel they pay twice when a marketplace charges taxes, import fees, or SA VAT at checkout, but Zimbabwe customs still charges duty, VAT, clearance, or courier handling fees on arrival.
At checkout
- Shop charged SA VAT, not Zimbabwe VAT
- Import fee shown as an estimate
- Invoice does not show duty paid
- Zimbabwe fees were not included at checkout
On arrival in Zimbabwe
- Parcel routed through South Africa first
- Seller did not pay Zimbabwe duty
- ZIMRA reassesses value or category
- Courier collects clearance on arrival
Frequently Asked Questions
What is customs clearance?
Customs clearance is the process of declaring goods to customs authorities when they enter or leave a country. It helps determine whether duties, VAT, permits, or other requirements apply.
Do all imports into Zimbabwe need customs clearance?
Most goods entering Zimbabwe may need customs clearance or customs checks, depending on cargo type, value, route, and import requirements.
What documents are needed for import clearance?
Common documents may include a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of entry, shipping documents, freight statement, certificate of origin, permits, licences, and product certificates where required.
What documents are needed for export clearance?
Export cargo may require a commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration, export permit where required, certificate of origin, product certificates, transport documents, and destination-specific documents.
How is customs duty calculated in Zimbabwe?
Customs duty is generally based on the value of the goods, product classification, freight, insurance, country of origin, and applicable duty rates.
What is CIF value?
CIF means Cost, Insurance, and Freight: the value of the goods plus insurance, freight, and certain charges incurred before the goods reach Zimbabwe's point of entry.
Will VAT apply on imports?
VAT may apply depending on the product type, value, customs assessment, and Zimbabwe import rules.
What is the difference between duty and VAT?
Duty is a customs charge based on the type and value of imported goods. VAT is a tax that may apply in addition to duty, depending on the goods and customs rules.
Do e-commerce parcels need customs clearance?
Yes. E-commerce parcels from Temu, SHEIN, Amazon, AliExpress, Alibaba, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, Shopify, and other online shops may require customs clearance when entering Zimbabwe.
Why do marketplace parcels sometimes attract extra charges?
Some parcels move through South Africa before Zimbabwe. A shop may charge SA VAT or estimated import fees, but Zimbabwe customs may still assess duty, VAT, clearance, or courier handling fees on arrival.
If I paid SA VAT, does that mean Zimbabwe customs is paid?
Not always. SA VAT is not the same as Zimbabwe duty or Zimbabwe VAT. If Zimbabwe customs charges were not clearly included, ZIMRA may still assess charges when the parcel enters Zimbabwe.
What is double duty?
Double duty is the customer term used when a person feels they have been charged twice: once by the online shop at checkout and again when the parcel reaches Zimbabwe customs or the courier.
How can I reduce double-duty confusion?
Keep the invoice, payment proof, shipping receipt, product description, tracking number, checkout summary, and any proof that import duties or taxes were already paid. Also check if the seller clearly confirms Zimbabwe duty, VAT, and clearance are included.
What goods may need permits?
Goods such as chemicals, fertilizers, medicines, food products, seeds, animal products, used goods, controlled goods, and certain industrial products may require permits or special checks.
Can customs clearance delay cargo?
Yes. Delays may happen if documents are missing, values are unclear, permits are required, duties are unpaid, product descriptions are incomplete, inspections are needed, or customs reassesses the goods.
Can you help with commercial cargo clearance?
Yes. We can support commercial import and export clearance guidance for containers, machinery, retail stock, industrial materials, agricultural products, mining cargo, chemicals, fertilizers, healthcare products, and project cargo.
Can you help with courier parcels?
Yes. We can support courier parcel clearance guidance for documents, parcels, marketplace orders, e-commerce purchases, small commercial shipments, and international parcels into Zimbabwe.
What information is needed for a customs clearance enquiry?
Send the product description, invoice value, country of origin, supplier details, parcel or cargo weight, dimensions, tracking number, shipping documents, delivery city, and whether the goods are personal, commercial, samples, gifts, or retail stock.
Can customs charges be confirmed before shipment?
They may be estimated before shipment if the product details, invoice value, HS code, origin, freight, insurance, and documentation are available. Final charges depend on customs assessment. Contact us.
Need help with customs clearance?
Send your product description, invoice value, origin country, delivery city, parcel or cargo weight, dimensions, and any tracking or shipping documents available.