Zimbabwe bans import of second-hand clothes and shoes

Patrick Chinamasa

HARARE – The government has banned the importation of second-hand clothes and shoes with effect from September 1 this year, as part of economy-wide measures to facilitate recovery of local industry. The products have been removed from the general import licence, with future importations now subject to seizure and destruction.

Presenting the 2015 Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement, that came two years to the 2013 harmonised elections that ushered in the incumbent Government, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the move was meant to reduce competition between imports and local products, a factor that has adversely affected local industry.

Zimbabwe’s textile and leather industry has since dollarisation been under siege from the influx of imports, especially finished second-clothes, shoes and leather products that forced some of them to close down.

The new measures also form part of extensive measures Government is taking to grow the economy, with economic growth rate revised down from 3,2 percent to 1,5 percent due to a poor agricultural season.

The slower growth is also expected to impact Government revenues, which have since been revised downwards to $3,6 billion from $3,99 billion after first half collections missed the target by 6 percent.

Minister Chinamasa said apart from the negative impact of second-hand imports of shoes and clothes on industrial recovery, these products posed a health hazard, as they were not subjected to fumigation. Herald