George Steward

01/10/2026

03/08/2026

New Alert !!!! Public Notice

03/08/2026

CLIENT ADVISORY | BURS NEW CUSTOMS REQUIREMENT FOR COMMERCIAL IMPORTS

Avoid border delays. Prepare your documents early.

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has introduced mandatory pre-lodgement of customs declarations , effective 1 August 2026.

This means all commercial import and export declarations must be submitted and approved before a truck proceeds to the border.

For Zimbabwean businesses using the Plumtree–Ramokgwebana Border Post , early customs preparation is now critical.

⚠️ Before your cargo moves, ensure your customs documents are ready:

✅ Supplier’s Invoice(s)
✅ Export or Transit Bill of Entry (where applicable)
✅ Value Declaration Forms
✅ Bill of Lading
✅ Freight Statements
✅ Cargo Manifest
✅ Insurance Statement
✅ Certificate of Origin (where applicable)
✅ Import Permits and Licences (for controlled goods)
✅ Duty-Free Certificates or Rebate Letters (where applicable)

⚠️ Important:

Vehicles arriving at the border without the required "PROCEED TO BORDER" status may face delays and penalties.

At George Steward, we help businesses navigate changing customs requirements across Zimbabwe, Botswana and the SADC region.

Our team supports you with:

✔ Customs documentation review
✔ Declaration preparation
✔ Compliance guidance
✔ Cross-border clearance support

📩 Send your documents early to avoid delays.

📧 [[email protected]]
🌐 [www.georgesteward.co.zw]

George Steward — Keeping Your Cargo Moving Across Southern Africa.

01/08/2026

🚨We're Hiring! 🚨

New career opportunities are now available!

If you're ready to take the next step in your career, review the poster for the full requirements and application instructions.

📧 Submit your CV to: [email protected]

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below or share this post to help them discover their next opportunity.

30/07/2026

BEITBRIDGE BORDER UPDATE!!!!!!!

Average crossing times this week: 46 hours.
That's a 25% jump from last week.
Some trucks are waiting close to four days.

Both ZIMRA and the Border Management Authority have confirmed the delay is coming from the Zimbabwean side — specifically, slower cargo processing by clearing agents.

We think that's worth saying plainly, not glossing over.

A lot of freight companies will tell you "just use an experienced clearing agent" as the solution to border delays. But when clearing agents are part of what's being named in this backlog, that advice needs to mean something more specific than just "trust us."

Here's what actually reduces delays right now:

✅ Documentation ready and verified before the truck reaches the border
✅ Pre-clearance used properly, not left for the queue
✅ Realistic timelines communicated to clients upfront
✅ A process built to avoid congestion, not add to it

At George Steward, we've adjusted client shipment timelines this week to reflect what's actually happening at the border — not what we'd like to be happening.

If you've got cargo moving through Beitbridge, Chirundu, or Forbes soon, now's the time to check your documentation is genuinely ready.

👉 Is this a bad week, or is this what Beitbridge looks like every time trade volumes rise? Let us know what you're seeing.

🎥 Watch the news report: https://youtu.be/ZXgAwRU_iCk?si=xwHGlx_Mlk6GBtrA

Zimbabwe

24/07/2026

IMPORTING A VEHICLE TO ZIMBABWE VIA DAR ES SALAAM? READ THIS FIRST!

Many people focus on the purchase price and import duty, but that's not where most unexpected costs come from.

On the Dar es Salaam–Chirundu route, these are the three areas that deserve your attention:

📍 Dar es Salaam Port
If your documents aren't ready or your transporter isn't arranged in time, your vehicle can remain at the port and start attracting **demurrage and storage charges**.

📍 Before the vehicle is exported
Where applicable, make sure the **CBCA inspection** is completed before shipment. It's much easier to deal with compliance before the vehicle leaves the country of export than after it has arrived.

📍 Chirundu Border
This is where paperwork matters. A difference between the Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading, chassis number, or transit documents can delay ZIMRA customs clearance while the issue is being resolved.

The purpose of this infographic is simple—to help you understand the journey your vehicle takes from Dar es Salaam Port to Zimbabwe via Chirundu, and the checkpoints where delays and unnecessary costs are most likely to occur.

The more you know before your vehicle ships, the fewer surprises you'll face when it arrives.

💬 Comment "DAR" if you're planning to import through Dar es Salaam, or tell us which route you'd like us to cover next—**Durban, Beira, or Walvis Bay.**

29/06/2026

Monday Motivation

Success is not measured by how many times we avoid challenges.

It is measured by how many times we rise, learn, and continue moving forward.

Every journey has obstacles. The difference is the mindset we carry through them.

Wishing you a focused and productive week ahead.