When the last budget was presented in parliament by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, it said that Civil Servants can import vehicles duty free. There has been a lot of confusion ever since.
Civil servants who tried to import vehicles found themselves having to pay duty. ZIMRA officials at Beitbridge expressed ignorance as to how this facility was supposed to work.
The Public Service Commission has now issued a circular expressing exactly how this facility is going to work, who can benefict (not every civil servant is eligible it turns out) and how civil servants can be approved-approval is needed before one imports a vehicle.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES FOR REBATE OF DUTY ON MOTOR VEHICLES IMPORTED BY PUBLIC SERVANTS: CIRCULAR NO. 6 OF 2019.
1.1 This Circular is issued by the Public Service Commission, pursuant to the introduction of rebate of duty on motor vehicles imported by members of the Civil Service and Service Commissions.
1.2 The rebate on motor vehicles has been afforded to members of the Civil Service and Service Commissions as part of a raft of measures that have been introduced by the Public Service Commission to improve on non-monetary benefits.
2.0 Procedures and Requirements for a Member to be Eligible to Benefit from the Rebate
2.1 The member shall submit an application to the Head of Ministry requesting authority to import a vehicle under the scheme.
2.2 The Head of Ministry should assess whether the member meets the following conditions before any recommendation letter is granted: that the member:
i) has served at least ten (10) years of continuous service in the Public Service or Service Commissions except in cases approved by the Commission.
ii) must have a valid Driver’s Licence and in the case of a member living with a disability a valid Driver’s Licence of a designated driver.
iii) is not subject to any disciplinary proceedings at the time of application.
iv) has not benefitted from this scheme within a period of five (5) years prior to submission of this application.
2.3 If the member satisfies the above criteria, the Head of Ministry shall forward the recommendations together with the relevant copies of Driver’s Licence and current pay slip (original) to the Public Service Commission for clearance.
2.4 Once clearance has been granted, the Public Service Commission shall forward the recommendations to Treasury for concurrence.
2.5 After Treasury concurrence has been granted, the member may proceed to import a suitable vehicle as guided by specifications in item 2.6 below.
2.6 Specifications to be met.
i) The vehicle should not be older than ten (10) years from date of manufacture at the time of importation unless specifically exempted from this requirement by the Public Service Commission in consultation with Treasury.
ii) The Government shall grant rebate of duty on a motor vehicle with a maximum import value of USS10 000.00
iii) The vehicle must meet the specifications under the Customs Tariff Codes
2.7 For the rebate of duty on import of a motor vehicle to be processed, a member shall submit the following documents to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA):
i) Recommendation letter from the Head of Ministry.
ii) Clearance from the Public Service Commission
iii) Treasury concurrence iv) Copy of a valid Driver’s Licence and in the case of a member living with a disability, a valid Driver’s Licence of a designated driver
v) Commercial invoice and bill of lading
vi) Proof of residence
vii) Copy of identity card
3.0 Please take note that the grant of rebate of duty on the motor vehicle purchased shall be revoked immediately when a member resigns or is discharged from the Public Service before the expiry of five (5) years from the date when the rebate was granted. Such member will immediately be liable to pay duty for the vehicle.
4.0 The interpretation of this Circular rests with the Public Service Commission.
DR VINCENT HUNGWE
CHAIRMAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
14 June 2019
6th Floor, SSC Building,
Sam Nujoma/Julius Nyerere Way
Tel: 0242-700882-4 1
www.psc.gov.zw
E-mail: feedback gpsc.gov.zw
