Banning second hand car imports progressive

to one James Hanna, a Japanese used car exporter.
First and foremost, as Zimbabweans, we need to appreciate that the banning of cars over five years old is for our own long-term good. Even if we do not do it now, we have to do it sooner or later.
It must be noted that Zimbabwe does not have motor vehicle manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan because of the import of second hand cars that are deemed cheap.
As I will illustrate below, this is just a myth. In South Africa, for example, R30 000 or US$4 300 is enough to deposit for a brand new spanking 1.4L Toyota Corolla with monthly repayments of the equivalent of about US$350.
This car is guaranteed to be on the road for at least five years, trouble free, or 10 years by Zimbabwean standards. The cars come with a warranty of R100 000 and up to three years back-up service plan, and insurance with option to trade-in and upgrade after three years.
Compare this with the US$6 000 cash or so that people are spending on used Japanese cars that are being driven for less than three years! This excludes US$500 or so for transport, accommodation and repairs to the imported car.
Most of the cars are now parked at home and have become useless because a small part such as MAFS cannot be found. I was quoted US$650 to replace a throttle chamber for a 2004 Nissan March. These cost less than US$1 500 in Japan.
I found the price outrageous and have had to contend with driving the car at less than 100km/h for over two years! In short, it will be actually cheaper to buy a brand new car assembled in Zimbabwe than it is to buy a used Japanese car.
People will not have to pay almost double the price for a brand new car, after factoring duty and other import taxes. In South Africa, any vehicle maker who wants to sell their cars in the country has to manufacture them in there for them to be competitive. That is why there are so many different motor vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. These are undisputable facts that Zimbabweans need to be made aware of.
It is my considered view that the banning of these used cars will create a better and serious market for new cars. Once the market for new cars is assured, there will be scope for new motor vehicle manufacturers and vehicle financiers to invest in Zimbabwe, just as they have done in South Africa.
Obviously, if car manufacturers set up their plants in Zimbabwe to serve the new market, the benefits are immense. They will create the much needed employment in various sectors, both primary and secondary industries.
Even the road network will improve. People will have more income to buy other things. The economy will surge. Our people always take the risk of being robbed in South Africa en-route to Durban to buy these cars.
Many have also been conned by unscrupulous Japanese exporters along the way. Not to mention the many sleepless nights that people spend on the road. Typically, buying a used car direct from Japan takes over one and a half months to get it here, and another seven days to get it home.
By lobbying for the lifting of the impending ban on used Japanese cars, we are in fact frustrating the growth of our own industry in general and the economy at large.
We are ensuring employment in the car exporting countries in sectors such as the sales, finance and banking, internet, shipping, insurance, inspectors, documents and vehicle couriers and so forth, hence the outcry from the Japanese car exporters.
The other myth that has to be dispelled forthwith concerns the mechanical condition of the cars and their alleged contribution to road traffic accidents.
Most used Japanese cars are quite a pleasure to drive – up to a certain point and under certain conditions. In most cases, the engines are in very good condition and one has to just fix minor problems with the suspension. The biggest problem is that most of the models have been discontinued in Japan and genuine parts are hard to come by and often very expensive.
It also appears that the body parts of most Japanese cars are designed to be driven on Japanese motorways and therefore not very strong. This probably explains why they are so difficult to restore once they get involved in even a minor accident.
The Japanese exporters are now saying that pre-shipment inspection can be made mandatory, of cause at an extra fee. This is not important as it will only serve the long-term interests of the exporting countries. What is needed is for Zimbabweans to have access to buy affordable locally assembled cars.
As explained above, this is better for our people, country and economy, both in terms of employment and industrial expansion. One needs to consider that a 1996 used Japanese car costing US$1 500 FOB Japan lands in Zimbabwe at almost six times this amount.
Over US$2 500 goes to freight, insurance, port charges, courier charges. All these monies going to foreign based entities!
How many jobs have we created in Japan and South Africa by buying those “cheap used cars” as Mr Hanna would want to put it? How much money and jobs have we lost locally?
The time to implement this major policy is now. Our economy is coming out of a major recession and is poised for growth. Zimbabwe is in almost the same situation as Japan found itself in about 66 years ago, soon after World War II. Its economy had been battered by the war and in shambles and under severe restrictions and sanctions.
Germany was in a similar situation. But, the Japanese and the Germans took the necessary difficult decisions to make their countries emerge as the super powers and highly industrialised economies that they are today.
Is it coincidental that Germany and Japan are the two countries that bore the brunt of World War II and came off the most bruised, but are now in the top five highly industrialised nations?
The media have a very big and non-partisan role to play in this crucial and highly charged debate that is set to shape the future of Zimbabwe. A thorough analysis needs to be made so that the public can be adequately informed of the pros and cons of the proposed ban.
Politics has to be put aside so that the right decision is made. Given the outcry from the public so far against the proposed ban, it is easy for the Government minister concerned to feel sorry for the people and suspend implementation of the new policy.
This will be tragic. Zimbabwe boasts the best literacy rate in Africa. We also have invested considerably in beautiful mansions and houses. This biggest achievement on the continent can only be matched by the highest standards of life that we deserve after the bruising last 10 years.
What we need now is for Government to quickly move in with new and attractive policy measures to attract massive investment in the car manufacturing and financing industries to coincide with implementation of the new policy.
The investors need to be assured that the market for their products exist in Zimbabwe. Obviously this cannot happen overnight and requires considerable work and sacrifice.
But the end justifies the means.
We cannot afford to continue playing second fiddle to our counterparts in South Africa or elsewhere where raising a small deposit of just US$3 000 can get you a brand new 1.4L Toyota Corolla.
I hope my contribution will change the dimension and scope of this important debate as we brace for this important policy change.