adminNgoni Dapira
TRADE in second-hand clothing had become a common feature in Mutare, which is the eastern gateway to Mozambique, the home of cheap bales of second-hand clothing and shoes.
However, a sharp turn is about to be seen as thousands of people that were earning a living from the trade will now have to face the full wrath of the law following the pronounced ban on second-hand clothes.
In his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review announced recently, Finance and Economic Development Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa banned the importation of second-hand clothing with effect from September 1.
Given the chicken and egg situation complicated by the soaring unemployment rate which left many with few employment prospects, mixed feelings have arisen over the issue.
Zimbabwe Clothing Manufacturers Association president Mr Jeremy Youmans said such drastic measures by Government were the only way to get back the economy up and running.
He said populist policies had been derailing attempts to revive the local industry and applauded Minister Chinamasa for a positive hard-ball stance to revive industry and restore the formal sector.
“The informal sector evades paying tax and a dip in revenue collections to treasury has been the order of the day,” he said.
In his presentation on value chain initiatives at the recently held Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries conference, Mr Youmans said there was need for policy formulation to focus on linking value chains.
“China in 2009 was a major importer of finished textile goods, but now is one of the biggest exporters. They were developing their industry in the process and linking their value chains. This is what we have to adopt and Government has taken a step forward by banning second-hand goods, which are choking the local industry. It is a syndrome which has to be nipped in the bud,” he said.
Minister Chinamasa also removed blankets from the Open General Import Licence for two-years, another move meant to promote the local textile industry reeling from cheap blanket imports.
Economist Mr Thomas Masese, however, said the banning of second-hand clothing especially in Mutare might not be have the intended impact considering that most goods were smuggled through the country’s porous borders.
“Efforts need to be made to make local clothes more affordable for local consumers.
“There is also need to address fundamental problems of high unemployment and subdued incomes earned by the general public, which is what forces people to buy cheap used clothes,” said Mr Masese.
CZI Manicaland chairman Mr Richard Chiwandire said a necessary evil was needed to overhaul the country’s cheap imports syndrome.
“We need Small to Medium Enterprises to enter the mainstream sector and formalise operations.
“Banning second-hand goods will narrow the activity in the informal sector as Government intends to boost the cotton and textile value chain, which has the potential to create thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to fiscus,” said Mr Chiwandire.
He added that in Manicaland the cotton farming sector in Middle Sabi and other areas had collapsed, but thousands used to be employed.
Although several second-hand traders at the Sakubva open-market expressed little knowledge about the development, the few who knew about the issue slammed Government for being callous.
Ms Idah Kamuti said second-hand clothes from Mozambique were on demand because of the relatively cheap prices compared to new clothes.
Fairly new, original clothing labels for women can go for as little as $2 or even $1 if one goes down further at the Sakubva Flea-market.
“People do not have money, but everyone wants to look smart and trendy.
“Mabhero (second-hand clothes) are so cheap. You can sometimes come across trendy designer clothes, especially for women,” said Ms Kamuti.
Another lady, Ms Letina Mabhiza who sells shoes and ranges of purses from leather, patent styles to designer ones, said she gets many orders from as far as Harare and Bulawayo.
She said she buys her purses for as little as $2 to $3 in Mozambique and resale some designers for $10 in Mutare and $15 to $20 in Harare.
On the other hand, those with daily flea-markets and boutiques who sell new imported clothing from South Africa and Botswana applauded the move.
Mr Tendai Sachiti, who imports clothing from South Africa said at least he paid duty and contributed something towards the fiscus unlike most of the second-hand traders that smuggled the clothing bales from Mozambique.
“Most of the clothing from Mozambique come in duty free after being smuggled.
“I understand people want to earn a living in the face of limited job opportunities in the country, but sanity should be maintained for a win-win situation. At least we pay duty for our products and contribute to the fiscus,” said Mr Sachiti.
Car boot sales have also been on the increase as clothing traders in boutiques seek alternatives to escape the high-rental charges on most of the up-market buildings.
Last year in July, a survey around the CBD in Mutare showed that several up-market boutiques were closing shop.
Industrialists have over the years blamed the porous nature of the country’s borders for many of the problems bedevilling industry. They blamed the problems on cheap imports smuggled into the country at zero cost.
During the 2015 CZI conference, the smuggling of goods through undesignated points as well as corruption by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials at border posts, were identified as threats to the effective implementation of the second-hand clothing ban.
Online Reporter