The international market for used motor vehicles remains a critical channel for Zimbabwean buyers; many Zimbabweans purchase right-hand drive used cars from Japan, Europe and America . To improve the integrity, safety, and regulation of such imports, the Zimbabwean government — through the Consignment‑Based Conformity Assessment Programme (CBCA) — works with certified pre-export inspection agencies. Among these is EAA Company Limited (EAA Japan), which until 2025 had long been part of the list of approved providers.
In August 2025, the Government renewed contracts under the CBCA programme, once again including EAA Company Limited among the authorised inspectors. Bulawayo24 News+2ZimNow+2
Below is how EAA’s role benefits individual buyers, the state, and supports national development goals under NDS1.
What EAA Company Limited Does (Operational Role Under CBCA)
- Under CBCA, all regulated imports — including used vehicles — must undergo a pre-export verification of conformity (PVoC) in the country of origin before shipment to Zimbabwe. mic.gov.zw+2herald+2
- EAA conducts inspection of vehicles in Japan to certify that they meet safety, environmental, and technical standards required by Zimbabwe. herald+1
- If a vehicle arrives without the required Certificate of Conformity (CoC), it can be subjected to destination inspection — potentially incurring delays, extra costs or penalties. herald+1
Thus EAA’s inspection and certification help ensure that only compliant, roadworthy used vehicles are imported to Zimbabwe.
2025 Re-Appointment: What Changed & Why It Matters
- As of 1 August 2025, the government expanded the number of service providers authorised under the CBCA programme — bringing in 2 additional providers, but also renewing contracts with the existing ones, including EAA Company Limited. Bulawayo24 News+2ZimNow+2
- The renewal was officially welcomed by industry stakeholders. According to the renewal announcement, the move “strengthens trade compliance and curbs smuggling” and is important for “protecting consumers, encouraging fair competition, and supporting our industrialisation agenda.” ZimNow+1
This reappointment reinforces the government’s trust in EAA’s capacity to deliver reliable pre-export inspections — and underscores a commitment to raising the quality and safety of imports.
Benefits to Zimbabwean Buyers (Individuals, Diaspora, Dealers)
Using EAA as an approved inspection agency under CBCA brings several advantages for a buyer — particularly someone in Zimbabwe (or the diaspora) who is importing a vehicle from Japan:
- Quality assurance & fraud prevention: Because EAA performs physical inspections and issues conformity certificates, buyers are shielded from common risks such as hidden mechanical faults, unsafe vehicles, or vehicles failing to meet local standards.
- Smoother customs clearance: Vehicles with valid inspection certificates are less likely to be flagged at clearance points, reducing delays, additional destination inspections, penalty fees, or seizure.
- Transparency & legitimacy: Having a recognised certification makes the transaction more transparent and formal — especially useful if the buyer is based abroad (e.g., in Zimbabwe’s diaspora) and wants assurance before shipping.
- Reduced risk of illicit practices: The certification discourages undervaluation, smuggling, “cash-based” shady deals, or importation of substandard or dangerous vehicles — a problem highlighted in media reports on illicit vehicle imports. fingaz.co.zw+1
Overall, EAA’s certification gives confidence to buyers that the vehicle will meet Zimbabwe’s regulatory and safety requirements.
Benefits to the Government & National Interest
EAA’s role as a certified inspector under CBCA supports broader government objectives:
- Protecting consumer safety and health: By preventing entry of substandard or unsafe vehicles, the government reduces risks to public safety and potential environmental hazards. This aligns with CBCA’s mandate to stop “substandard, counterfeit, and potentially hazardous goods” from entering Zimbabwe. mic.gov.zw+1
- Enhancing revenue collection and curbing illicit economy: Proper certification helps ensure correct valuation for customs duties and taxes, reducing opportunities for undervaluation, smuggling or fraud — which in turn helps stabilise foreign currency flows and improves tax revenues. As noted in 2025 media coverage, the renewal of the CBCA contracts (including EAA) was part of efforts to “curb smuggling.” ZimNow+1
- Creating a level playing field for formal business: By enforcing import standards, the government discourages informal and unregulated “grey-market” imports. This supports formal dealers and clearing agents, and reduces distortions in the local automotive market.
- Supporting industrialisation and economic strategy: In renewing the CBCA contracts, government officials linked the initiative to the broader national programme for industrial reconstruction and growth. ZimNow+1
Alignment with National Development Strategy (NDS1) & Ease of Doing Business Goals
- The CBCA programme (and by extension EAA’s re-appointment) supports key pillars of NDS1 — especially those around economic growth and stability, consumer protection and quality assurance, and “ease of doing business / trade facilitation.” Veritas Zimbabwe+2mic.gov.zw+2
- Under NDS1, the government committed to “speeding up Ease of Doing Business reforms to reduce the cost of doing business.” mines.gov.zw+1
- By authorising multiple inspection providers (not only EAA), the expansion reduces bottlenecks that previously delayed inspections — which in turn simplifies import procedures for individuals and businesses. As the government noted, the expansion was meant to boost capacity and convenience as trade volumes grow. Bulawayo24 News+1
- Through formalising and regulating vehicle import processes, the CBCA programme helps Zimbabwe move away from informal, cash-based, large-scale smuggling of cars — a key obstacle to transparent trade and economic stability. This contributes to macroeconomic stability, one of NDS1’s central ambitions. fingaz.co.zw+1
Hence, EAA’s role under the renewed CBCA programme is more than a technical detail: it is a building block in the country’s broader strategy to improve trade governance, economic formalisation, and ease of doing business — all crucial for achieving the long-term vision set out in NDS1 and Vision 2030. mines.gov.zw+2Zimbabwe Government Portal+2
What Media / Officials Have Said (Quotations & Public Statements)
- In its August 2025 announcement renewing CBCA contracts, the government said the renewal “marks a significant step in our commitment to quality assurance and trade integrity.” ZimNow
- The expansion was framed as necessary “to curb smuggling” and to “protect consumers, encourage fair competition, and support our industrialisation agenda.” ZimNow+1
- As the implementing authority of CBCA, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce emphasised that the programme ensures all regulated imports meet local or internationally accepted standards before shipment — a protection for Zimbabwean consumers and markets. mic.gov.zw+1
These statements show that senior officials view the renewed and expanded CBCA (including EAA) as central to improving compliance, fairness and quality in imports — part of a broader economic governance agenda.
Why This Matters — For Diaspora, Retail Buyers, Economy and Policy
For Zimbabweans — at home or abroad — who are considering buying a car overseas (for example in Japan), knowing that EAA is re-appointed under CBCA gives them confidence: they can expect formal inspections and certification, smoother clearance, fewer risks, and compliance with Zimbabwean regulations.
At the same time, the government uses the process to prevent illicit practices, preserve foreign currency, boost revenue collection, and promote orderly trade — all contributing to macroeconomic stability, greater transparency, and support for formal sectors.
On a national scale, this framework helps advance the aspirations of NDS1 and Vision 2030: strengthening institutions, enabling ease of doing business, encouraging formal trade, and promoting consumer protection — which ultimately supports sustainable economic growth and structural transformation.