Import vehicles into Botswana

Importing  vehicles  into Tanzania

Please note that   DONGTE-- DTA  manufactuer exporter to Africa   . People may find it daunting to export to  Botswana but not with  DTA. Email us now at tomking@dtatruck.com and discover the DTA difference.  DTA is known for its superior  integrity, great customer service, great prices, great selection, great quality and great speed of delivery.

The founder members of the East African Community Customs Union are Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In December 2006, Burundi and Rwanda were admitted into the Union. Members of COMESA are Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Finally, South African Development Community (SADC) is comprised of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The majority of our exports to  Africa are going to Maputo ,Durban ,DAR ES SALAAM, MOMBASA  , Port Louis, TamataVe,WalVis Bay,Pointe Noire, Luanda, Lome,Matadi, Owendo, LIBREVILLE, Bata, Malabo, Duala,  Lagos, Cotonou, Conakry,Tema, Dakar,Namibe based dealers who buy it for their customers in different parts of South and East ，west Africa

Botswana

A landlocked country in southern Africa, Botswana has a total area of 600,370 sq km (231,802 sq mi), extending 1,110 km (690 mi) NNE–SSW and 960 km (597 mi) EWE–WNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Botswana is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It meets Zambia at a point in the N and is bordered on the NE by Zimbabwe, on the SE and S by South Africa, and on the W and N by Namibia, with a total boundary length of 4,013 km (2,494 mi).

The Republic of Botswana, one of Africa’s truly prosperous nations and arguably its most stable democracy, occupies 225,000 square miles (about the size of Texas) in the center of the southern Africa plateau. Most of its area is an inhospitable semi-desert known as the Kalahari. Even the most arable sections of eastern Botswana are subject to periodic drought and unpredictable rains. Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn and has an average elevation of 3,300 feet. Daily high temperatures during the hottest month, January, average in the upper 90’s to over 100 °F. Winter daytime temperatures generally reach 70°, but with little cloud cover and no humidity to hold warmth in the air, they plummet to 30 or 40°F at night.

Botswana’s four major incorporated towns, all located along the eastern edge of the country are Gaborone (224,000); Francistown (106,500); Selebi-Phikwe (50,500); Lobatse (33,000); and Mochudi (31,000). Other towns with more than 20,000 residents are Serowe in the Central District, Kanye in the Southern District, Molepolole in the Kwenange District, and Maun in the Ngamiland District.

Botswana Import Duty

Botswana belongs to a customs union called the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Namibia. South Africa levies and collects most of the customs, sales, and excise duties for the five member states, paying a share of the revenues to the other four. In addition, all customs duties are eliminated among the five countries. The SACU implements high protectionist tariffs on countries outside of the club, though, disheartening potential nonmember investors. In 1996, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched a free trade agreement for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers between its member countries (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), to be completed by 2010.

South Africa has put in place a value-added tax (VAT) for imports coming into the SACU from outside, but its implementation on Botswana's borders has so far been unsuccessful. Additionally, as a signatory of GATT and a member of the World Trade Organization, Botswana and the rest of the SACU will have to reduce tariffs by 24% over the course of 10 years.

Botswana Vehicle Policy

There is no restriction on age of imported used vehicles and you can import vehicles older than ten years if you so choose. Maintenance is available locally, but is not always satisfactory. The price for replacement parts is high and the parts themselves are not always immediately available. Right-hand-drive Chevrolet Blazers, Daimler Chrysler minivans, Toyotas, Nissans, Isuzus, Mazdas, Landrovers, Mercedes, South African Fords, and Opels are the most common vehicles. To take advantage of the region’s many game parks, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is preferable and, in some cases, the only viable choice. Gasoline and diesel fuel are available in all major towns and villages. Unleaded gasoline is available, but can be difficult to find outside of the largest cities.

The accident rate in Botswana is high for several reasons. Rising incomes and the proliferation of low-cost automobile purchase programs have put many inexperienced drivers on the road. Also, all major highways in the country are paved, but consist of only two lanes, making it necessary to pull into the oncoming traffic lane in order to pass. Speed limits are high and many roads do not have adequate shoulders, thus head-on collisions and rollovers are common. The situation is compounded by the ubiquitous presence of livestock on the road and the high incidence of drunk driving. Night driving is extremely dangerous and not recommended. The Government has initiated a project to expand the heavily traveled Gaborone-Francistown corridor to four lanes, which will be a welcome improvement.

Motor vehicle drivers in South Africa or Botswana must have third-party-liability insurance, current vehicle registration and valid license plates. The registration sticker must be affixed to the windshield of the vehicle where it can be inspected by the authorities. Motor vehicles imported into Botswana are required to undergo a safety inspection and any deficiencies must be corrected before registration plates can be issued.

Documents Required for Customs Clearance

• Passport
• Residence Permit and Work Permit
• Letter from employer confirming appointment and duration of contract
• Inventory
• Form CE101 (in duplicate, to be presented to the Department of Customs and Excise)
• P1.160 Form (in triplicate)

Customs Regulations for Returning Residents

Customer must be in Botswana at the time of Customs Clearance

Returning residents must prove to Customs that they have been out of the country for two years or more
Used household goods and personal effects must arrive within six months of Customer's arrival

Importing Cars and other vehicles

Depending on the status of the owner, an auto may be imported duty-free providing it has been owned and used for one year prior to shipment and arrives within six months of Customer's arrival

Documents required:

• Import Permit, issued by the Ministry of Commerce, is required
• Application form IC.2 (available from destination agent) to be completed and forwarded with registration documents to the Ministry of Commerce
• Registration papers and proof that the auto has been owned and used for one year
• Purchase invoice and/or proof of purchase value
• CE101 completed in duplicate, submitted with Import Permit, Residence Permit, Passport, to Department of Customs and Excise
• Police clearance certificate

Southern Africa

SACU (the Southern African Customs Union)

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world.  SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.

SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.

Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.