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Answer Sithole
MANICALAND province marks the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is the entry point of second-hand clothing which are smuggled into the country.Second-hand clothing, commonly referred to as ‘‘mazitye’’, have slowly become a permanent feature on the Zimbabwean markets over the years.
Bales of mazitye enter Zimbabwe illegally from Mozambique through various porous entry points of which some of the points are Border Streams, Cashel Valley, a kiosk near Forbes Border Post and Mhuka in Mutare near Marymount Teachers’ College.
The duty that is attached to each bale is high and this gives rise to high levels of smuggling.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s Mutare office declined to comment on the activity of smuggling that is taking place in Manicaland and also refused to reveal the amount of duty a bale should declared for, saying that such information should come from ZIMRA communication office in Harare.
Most of the sources interviewed for this article requested anonymity.
One ZIMRA officer said: “40 percent of the actual price plus five dollars is the duty for one bale of used clothing. So it is very rare to see a bale being declared for because it is expensive and beyond the reach of many who are in the business.”
A Sakubva man who transports smuggled bales said that a bale can cost $80 to $150 depending on the grade of the bale. More than 100 bales of mazitye are smuggled into the country on a daily basis in the face of the ongoing operations against anti-smuggling by the uniformed forces and ZIMRA.
ZIMRA operations against anti-smuggling are still ongoing and currently there is a joint operation of the uniformed forces working on the same.
Despite all this tight security monitoring, the markets in Mutare are flooded with second-hand clothing vendors.
Sakubva flea market constitutes much of the market of ‘‘mazitye’’, whereas the Meikles Flea Market is also flourishing.
Every evening is flooded by second-hand shoe sellers on the streets, always on the watch for fear of being arrested.
Explaining why the “mazitye” market has increased and not closed shop in Mutare, different views were given by various people of the society.
The demand for “mazitye” seems to have increased due to low circulation of money as most Zimbabweans are living from hand to mouth.
“Mazitye” markets provide cheaper goods and constitute a one-shop stop. Average men in Zimbabwe are failing to make ends meet and this has given rise to the demand for ‘mazitye’ which are cheap. A shirt goes for $15 to $20 in shops, but at the flea market a shirt goes for a dollar or $2, which is affordable.
“The economic situation in which we are right now has created a market for ‘mazitye’. The demand for ‘mazitye’ makes it impossible to control smuggling. So the business of selling ‘mazitye’ has increased,”said Passmore Chirau, a Sakubva resident.
A pharmacist in town said: “Mazitye are affordable, but there is more to them than just that. Mazitye are of high quality and are more durable than the ones in shops. I am a woman and buy my underwear from mazitye because they are durable.
“The uniqueness of the clothes found Kumazitye makes one go and buy. This might be explained by the fact that we see a lot of white people purchasing their clothing at Sakubva flea market.” said the pharmacist.
A lecturer from a college in Mutare, who declined to be named, said that human beings by nature opt for the high level of satisfaction in consuming a product at the lowest price.
“Human beings are homo-economics beings who budget and want more for less.
So, the second-hand clothes market offers great value for money compared to shops in town.
“This has been the basis of the survival of the second-hand clothing market. Selling second-hand clothes has created employment for most of the youths and this is indigenisation at its best.
“The illegality of selling second-hand clothing should be controlled by reducing duty. As long as the demand for ‘mazitye’ is as high as it is, smuggling will not stop,” said the lecturer.
Online Reporter