Zimbabwe Closes Deputy Minister’s Liquor Store in Smuggling Crackdown
Zimbabwe’s government has intensified its fight against smuggling, closing a popular liquor outlet in Bulawayo owned by Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi. The closure is part of a nationwide crackdown on smuggled goods, showing that authorities are leaving no stone unturned.
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Zimbabwe Closes Liquor Hub Owned by Deputy Minister
The liquor store, located along Fife Street between 4th and 5th Avenues, was closed on Saturday evening. Shoppers inside the store were caught off guard when officials entered the premises and demanded documentation that was not readily available.
“We were in the shop around 6 pm when officials arrived. They asked for paperwork, but it was unavailable, so they ordered the shop to close,” said a customer.
According to a source close to the matter, the closure was ordered by an interministerial task force on smuggling, which includes security organs and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA).
When a CITE news crew visited the premises on Monday morning, the outlet was still closed.
Raj Modi Responds to Closure
Contacted for comment, Deputy Minister Raj Modi confirmed the closure but downplayed its significance, describing it as a routine verification exercise.
“Yes, it’s true. There is nothing wrong with it. They said they want to check and verify everything, and that was the whole point,” Modi said.
Mthuli Ncube Calls for Stricter Enforcement
At a 2025 post-budget breakfast meeting in Bulawayo on Monday, Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube addressed the harmful impact of smuggling on Zimbabwe’s formal economy.
“Smuggled goods are harming the formal sector, squeezing markets for retailers and manufacturers. This is a real problem, and that’s why we are taking aggressive measures to address it,” said Ncube.
He listed the main goods being targeted in the crackdown, which include alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cement, clothing, footwear, dairy products, diapers, electrical appliances, processed meat, rice, pasta, sugar, tyres, motor parts, and detergents.
“These goods are deemed smuggled unless proven otherwise. We need to protect local manufacturers and ensure the resilience of our economy,” he said.
Ncube highlighted that smuggling has been on the rise over the past few years, threatening jobs and businesses. He emphasized the need for decisive action by ZIMRA and security forces to curb the problem.
“It’s important that our revenue authorities, working with security forces, act decisively. Smuggling is killing formal businesses and taking jobs. That’s why you’re seeing the current blitz at our borders and across the economy,” Ncube said.
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