DO NOT SEND PACKAGES USING DHL

I recently sent a parcel to my sister from Cape Town (SA) to Zimbabwe) using dhl the package had 5 set baby clothes and a small backpack (bag) she was told to pay $99.77 (usd) duty and taxes( which she did and paid $100(usd) after the payment they refused to release the package claiming that my sister needed to apply for an export/ import permit because apparently the backpack bag in the package needed that permit. My countless pleas and explanations that it was a gift and a few items that were not going to be for resale. My sister stays in a small town which doesn’t have industry and commerce offices so in order to get help she would have had to travel to big cities in Zimbabwe. The other option of applying for a permit online is non existent in the sense that one needed to register first and then apply but the website site doesn’t function properly. DHL Harare airport in Zimbabwe have since threatened to hand over the package to customs to have it auctioned. Highly disappointed is an understatement because l feel DHL should warn their customers on their website that sending a package in Zimbabwe warrants a permit of import/ export for receivers in that country. I have lost a package and duty and taxes money l paid for nothing.