Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), held a Training of Trainers workshop on rules of origin for Zimbabwe Customs. The workshop was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 4 to 8 August 2025 with the objective to assist Zimbabwe Customs in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin and contribute to a seamless implementation of the AfCFTA and other relevant FTAs.

This workshop forms part of a comprehensive technical assistance and capacity building partnership with ZIMRA in its capacity as a WCO Regional Training Center and builds on the acquis from intermediate and advanced trainings conducted since 2024. The support provided under the RoO Africa Programme allows for the deployment of wide-ranging capacity building activities, to enhance the infrastructure and capacity in relation to rules of origin.

The workshop provided participants with an opportunity to refine their knowledge of rules of origin, while also enhancing their skills in designing and delivering effective training sessions. The workshop offered the participants a unique opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of origin-related topics through group and individual presentations, incorporating facilitation and communication skills acquired from WCO experts.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the WCO experts offered constructive feedback to participants, highlighting areas for improvement and praising their success in applying newly acquired skills to develop training materials and deliver a training session.

In the margins of the workshop, the experts met Ms Regina Chinamasa, Commissioner General of ZIMRA, and other management representatives to discuss the impact of the comprehensive technical assistance received as well as further needs and the way forward. The CG thanked the WCO for the assistance and indicated that some of the expected gains were improvement in revenue mobilization and enhanced trust in the administration. The new trainers will get opportunities to train at the RTC as well as deliver training for stakeholders to enhance private sector compliance.

The EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme will continue its work with ZIMRA to equip Customs officials and relevant stakeholders with extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of rules of origin.

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