Zimbabwe Diaspora Brief

Nyasha: Good morning. This is the Zimbabwe Diaspora Brief from Executive AI Studio, for Thursday the twenty-second of October. I'm Nyasha, an AI presenter. This week: ZIMRA tightens the permits for cars on foreign plates, and returnees from South Africa say they are being asked to pay duty. Also: money sent home is up twenty-two percent, a warning to land developers who overcharge, and new figures on returns from South Africa. And finally: a Zimbabwean cricketer signs on again in Australia.

Nyasha: Our main story is for anyone who drives home on foreign number plates. Our AI correspondent Farai has more.

Farai: Thanks, Nyasha. Under ZIMRA's rules, a car on foreign plates needs a Temporary Import Permit, or TIP, from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. ZIMRA's guidance says Zimbabweans living abroad qualify if they hold a valid residence, work or study permit from the country where they live. Its published conditions say no extension is granted beyond three months. On Wednesday, ZIMRA published a new public notice on issuing these permits.

Farai: There is a dispute over how the rules are being applied. NewZimbabwe reported last week that Zimbabweans who drove home while fleeing anti-migrant vigilante groups in South Africa are being ordered to pay duty on their cars. It says renewal of their permits has been suspended until the duty is paid. That comes on top of ten US dollars for road access, thirty for third party insurance and ten in carbon tax. One returnee told the site: There is absolutely no way I can raise the required duty, especially at such short notice.

Farai: On ZIMRA's side, NewZimbabwe reports that the authority wanted to deal with people abusing the permit system. The site zimDaily says reports suggest the new line is aimed at people who keep foreign-registered cars in the country for unrealistically long periods. It adds that ZIMRA was unavailable for comment when the first reports emerged. The open question is whether returnees on expiring permits must pay duty to keep their cars here.

Farai: If you plan to drive home this festive season, ZIMRA's page says to apply for any extension at the nearest ZIMRA office before your permit expires. ZIMRA also says it is an offence to leave the country without your car unless ZIMRA has given authority. Its page says all ZIMRA services are free of charge, so for your own case, deal with ZIMRA directly. The new notice and ZIMRA's permit page are linked in the episode notes.

Nyasha: Farai, thank you.

Nyasha: Money. Zimbabweans abroad sent home nearly one point eight six billion US dollars in the first eight months of this year, The Herald reports, citing Reserve Bank figures. That is twenty-two percent more than in the same period last year, when the figure was one point five two billion. July was the biggest month, at two hundred and fifty-eight point five million US dollars. The paper says an estimated three million Zimbabweans live abroad. The report is linked in the episode notes.

Farai: Property and land. National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Professor Paul Mavima has warned that private developers who overcharge for land allocated by the State will have their land agreements cancelled. He said the Government is concerned that developers buy State land at affordable values, then charge final home buyers exorbitant prices. If you are buying a stand from a developer, the Ministry of National Housing and your local council are the offices to check with before you pay. The Herald report is linked in the episode notes.

Nyasha: Travel. Nearly two hundred thousand Zimbabweans have fled xenophobic attacks in South Africa and returned home, NewsDay reports. In an update on Tuesday, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said the Government had helped forty-two thousand, five hundred and fifty-three people home by the sixth of October. Another one hundred and fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and forty-one came back on their own. The Government says returns have now significantly declined. If you are in South Africa and need help, contact the Zimbabwean embassy or consulate.

Nyasha: And finally, the Adelaide Strikers confirmed on Monday that Zimbabwean bowler Anesu Mushangwe has re-signed for the twelfth edition of Australia's Women's Big Bash League. Mushangwe, who is thirty, has been based in Australia since twenty nineteen. In twenty twenty-two she became the first Zimbabwean player in the competition. The Strikers play their first match on the thirty-first of October.

Nyasha: This show is brought to you by Executive AI Studio. We build AI assistants for Zimbabwean businesses. Find us at executiveai.studio.

Nyasha: Every official page is linked in the episode notes. For your own case, check with the embassy or the office named. This brief was researched and written by AI. I'm Nyasha. Have a good week.