Zimbabwe
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • Consignee ZIMRA BP Number, 6-digit HS Code, and precise goods description mandatory on Ocean B/L and manifest.
- • Coastal discharge port must be stated with mandatory transit notation: "Cargo in transit to Zimbabwe via Port of [Discharge Port] at consignee's risk and expense".
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
Consignee ZIMRA BP Number must appear on transport documents and manifest. For transit cargo to Harare, Bulawayo, or Mutare via Beira, Durban, or Maputo, the explicit transit clause ("In transit to Zimbabwe via Port of [Discharge Port]") must appear in the goods description field.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • Mandatory pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity issued by CBCA-accredited inspection bodies prior to loading for regulated commodities.
- • Second-hand vehicles older than 10 years strictly require a prior Commercial Import Licence issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
- • Regional customs transit bond processed at coastal gateway port before cross-border transit.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Passenger vehicles: maximum 10 years from manufacture
- • Left-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • English product labeling mandatory on all retail goods.
- • Left-hand-drive vehicles strictly prohibited (RHD required).
- • Motor vehicles older than 10 years require a Ministry Commercial Import Licence prior to shipment.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate mandatory for all imported meat products.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance strictly enforced at border corridors.
- • ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp required on all wooden packaging.
Shipper & Consignee
Where this destination differs from standard practice
- • Foreign consignees are not accepted — a locally-registered entity must be named.
Consignee must be a registered Zimbabwean commercial entity with an active BP Number issued by ZIMRA. "To Order" B/Ls are permitted provided the Notify Party is the registered local buyer or licensed transit forwarder with full physical address in Harare or Bulawayo, local phone number, and BP Number stated on the B/L. PO Box only is rejected.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Regulated goods arriving without an origin CBCA CoC incur a mandatory 15% CIF penalty plus border quarantine testing delays at Beitbridge or Forbes. Second-hand vehicles over 10 years without a prior Ministry Commercial Import Licence face customs entry refusal.
Compliance Timeline for Zimbabwe
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Complete pre-shipment inspection (PVoC / CoC) via CBCA Accredited Bodies (Bureau Veritas, Cotecna) before cargo is stuffed.
- ✓ Verify vehicle age against the applicable statutory limit (10 yrs passenger).
- ✓ Confirm vehicle is NOT left-hand drive before booking.
- ✓ Confirm consignee is a locally-registered entity — foreign consignees are not accepted at this destination.
- ✓ Verify ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp on all wooden crates, dunnage, and pallets.
Prior to Sailing
- ✓ Ensure exact consignee Tax ID / Registration Code and 6-digit HS Code are printed on B/L.
- ✓ Submit SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to loading terminal before yard cutoff.
Port Clearance at Destination
- ✓ Present original Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to destination standards inspectors.
- ✓ Collect Delivery Order (DO) upon completing Release verification.
Download Compliance Guide for Zimbabwe (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.