Stripping, smuggling of ‘Cats’ prejudice Zim Treasury

BERNARD MPOFU

A new business with far reaching environmental consequences and the potential to prejudice treasury of millions of dollars in revenue has mushroomed in Zimbabwe’s urban centres and townships – where some are living off stripping “cats” from vehicles.

Armed with gas cylinders and wielding a few spanners, young men approach motorists pulling over at fuel filling stations and shopping malls offering what would appear as attractive deals.

The buying and selling of catalytic converters (cats) has created new sources of income for the unemployed youth in Zimbabwe.

Their main catchment areas are fuel stations, where retailers are increasingly selling their products in United States dollars since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We can give you $120 for your cat (catalytic converter),” a young man in his early 30s entices a driver who is in a short fuel queue.

He told this reporter: “On a good month I can pocket $1,000 if our buyer offers good price.

Whenever that happens I will take care of my family for months.

This is the job I have chosen for now and I am happy.”

Asked where the buyers are, he said: “Our guy in Zimbabwe takes them to South Africa.

Covid-19 cannot stop him from getting the stuff there because he has couriers.”

Once terms are agreed, motorists are often directed to a ramp where the buyers de-cat the converters.

On social media platforms like Facebook, some businesses are advertising that they are buying the converters for recycling.

“Procatzim Catalytic Recyclers will pay premium prices for your catalytic converters.

Do you want to de-cat your car or have you de-catted and still have your catalytic converters?” reads one of the adverts.

Another says: “Are you a mechanic, exhaust workshop or own a tuning business and have cats?

Call Now to get premium pricing on your cat converters. 0777272427 WhatsApp and calls/Email @procatzim.com( Agents Countrywide ).

Our prices range from USD80 per kilo least paid and up to 230 USD per kg highest paid.”

An investigation by the Business Times shows that catalytic converters, key components in reducing carbon emissions from vehicle fumes, are being smuggled into neighbouring South Africa.

Experts say the catalytic converters which are removed from exhaust pipes are rich in platinum, rhodium and sometimes small quantities of gold.

Wellington Madumira, a lobby and advocacy officer at Zimbabwe Regional Environment Organisation, said in some cases, motor mechanics remove the catalytic converters without the owner’s knowledge when they service cars.

“After consulting one of the mechanics besides love of money, performance enhancement is the other primary reason for removing catalytic converters.

Most motorists are unaware that dubious mechanics have since made a killing off the devices taken from their car,” Madimura said.

“There is need to develop and implement emission level tests for cars especially when they go for inspection at the Vehicle Inspection Department.

This will enable our nation to meet the 33% emission reduction target by 2030 taking into consideration how many second hand cars are getting into Zimbabwe yearly.”

Madimura said once removed, motorists would need up to US$2,500 – the cost of a second hand car in Zimbabwe – to replace the catalytic converters on a vehicle.

Official figures show that between 2009 and 2015 Zimbabwe imported cars worth US$4.87 billion with Japan being the most dominant source.

The country’s Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), Statutory instrument 72 of 2009 gives the prescribed air quality and emission standards in the form of maximum permissible discharge but the enforceability of this piece of legislation has been a challenge for Zimbabwe and many other developing countries.

According to Climate Watch, the total annual greenhouse gas emissions for Zimbabwe were estimated at 66 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Zimbabwe’s revenue collector says it has no details.

“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has not yet recorded cases of catalytic converters being smuggled out of Zimbabwe to South Africa.

So we cannot verify those allegations as an organisation.

We will however investigate the issue further,” ZIMRA spokesperson Francis Chimanda said in a written response.

Contacted for comment on inter-state smuggling, South African Police Service Limpopo province spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said he would make a follow up on the issue.

Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “I will have to check on that and get back to you.”

Zimbabwe has one of the highest known platinum reserves in the world after South Africa and Russia.

According to commodity trading website Kitco, an ounce of platinum was trading at US$886.

As Zimbabwe economy flounders, demand for the stable United States dollar has increased with many trying to eke out a living.

According to the World Bank, poverty in Zimbabwe rose to 34% in 2019 from 29% in 2018, an increase from 4.7 million to 5.7 million people.

Independent estimates show that the southern African nation has over 80% unemployment.

Across the Limpopo River which borders Zimbabwe and South Africa, buyers are also offering premiums for the converters.

They offer up to US$300 for the same commodity.

“Most catalytic converters contain small amounts of precious metals, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.

We monitor the market prices for these precious metals and adjust the catalytic prices accordingly.

This ensures that our buying process is transparent, honest and fair,” reads a notice carried by South Africa-based AST Recycling, who are one of the buyers.

Byron Zamasiya, a programme officer with the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association warned that de-cating would harm the environment.

“Catalytic converters are important for reducing vehicle emissions during combustion.

Most vehicles are imported fitted with these components to reduce pollutants.

If these are removed, vehicle emissions will increase and cause damage to our environment,” Zamasiya said.

This story was produced by Bernard Mpofu. It was written as part of Wealth of Nations, a media skills development programme run by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. More information at www.wealth-ofnations.org. The content is the sole responsibility of the author and the publisher.

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