Has anyone here left a rifle as a tip in Zim? I've been told that you can do so, you just need to sort out the paperwork and license issues with Customs on your departure. Has anyone done this before?

Pete

I think it is a bit more complicated than that.

I have given PH's things like scopes after determining just what they want. In RSA PH's are limited in how many rifles they can legally possess, and I would guess that Zim is also tough. I'm sure Saeed is understating the problem.

In Zimbabwe there is no problem recieving the rifle...book it n on a temporary import- apply for import permit, pay duty, collect firearms license.

The problem is for the exporting country...check you local laws.

In Practice, if you are leaving ALL the firearms you bring in then they can be explained aways by 'lost when canoe capsised' or some such. the problems are invarably when you are trying to take one home and leave one behind - virtually impossible to do so leagally

It is not as simple as sorting things out with customs upon departure. You would need to obtain a permanent export license well beforehand authorizing the permanent exportation of the rifle.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) Bureau of Political-Military Affairs of the U.S. State Department controls such exports.

Without the proper export license, you would be potentially liable for civil and even criminal penalties.

I did that and it was not a big problem. We just went to some office at the airport in Harare on the way out, my PH did a little paperwork and we walked out. He thought he would have to leave the rifle with them for some period of time but it wasn't required so he left with it. I assume that no problems ensued but I don't know that.

You can leave it in Zim as stated above.

Whether it's legal from your side is another story.

How big are your balls?

Will:

I have this aversion to jail, especially the ones I have read about in Africa. Make sure ALL the paperwork is done here first.

Rich

My comments above apply generally to permanent rifle exports from the USA.

With respect to Zimbabwe in particular, I should have noted that, since 2002, the U.S. State Department has refused, as a matter of policy, to issue any permanent export licenses under AECA and ITAR for Zimbabwe.

This means that what you want to do cannot be done legally.

Hunters are still allowed, under the standard ITAR license exemption, to take certain firearms and ammunition to Zimbabwe for personal use only, but explicitly NOT for transfer to third parties. The firearms must be returned to the USA.

See HERE, and also HERE.

quote:

Originally posted by R. G. Howard:
I did that and it was not a big problem. We just went to some office at the airport in Harare on the way out, my PH did a little paperwork and we walked out. He thought he would have to leave the rifle with them for some period of time but it wasn't required so he left with it. I assume that no problems ensued but I don't know that.

Admitting to felonious behavior on the internet is never wise, especially as regards illegal export of firearms to a prohibited country. Ignorance of U.S. law is not a defense. It is not Zimbabwe you need worry about.

Transferring a firearm from Australian Ownership to Zimbabwean is certainly not a problem. Not sure about from the USA though.

The problem is the US laws do NOT allow it without a lot of paper work.

Anyone doing this is leaving themselves open to criminal prosecution.

R. G. Howard:

It's none of my business, but I think you should delete your above post soonest.

I am dealing with this situation as we speak.
Last fall I had a client that wants to give a rifle to the Zim PH he hunted with.
I contacted ATF who told me I needed to contact the State Department. The State Department handles all exports of weapons out of the United States. The man I spoke with at the State Dept. was very cordial and helpful but informed my they treat the export of a hunting rifle the same as the exportation of a load of military weapons. He pointed me to a US statute that says the you cannot export weapons from the United States to Zimbabwe at this time.
As someone alreaady mentioned above the problem seems to lie in the exportation from the US rather than importation into Zimbabwe.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think it was quite that easy or straightforward.

Pete