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Prosper Dembedza–Herald Correspondent
Zimbabwe Textile Manufacturers Association (Zitma) has raised concern over the increased smuggling of second-hand clothes, blankets and various other fabrics which is threatening the viability of the industry.
The association said illegal imports were choking local manufacturers and forcing businesses to retrench.
Zitma urged Government to set up a taskforce to curb smuggling particularly of clothes and other textile products.
“We have continuously raised our concerns on smuggling which makes our life difficult. We have no problem with competition, but we want to do business the right way.
“The smuggled goods are being sold at lower prices because the smugglers do not pay duty at border posts. They even lie that the goods are from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regions while they are smuggled from Asian countries,” said Zitma president Mr Admire Masenda.
He said if unchecked, the smuggling of textiles would lead to the eventual collapse of the industry leading to widespread job losses and a general decline of the economy.
Players in the textile industry said smugglers were declaring blankets as woven fabric to avoid paying duty amid indications that foreign businesspersons were repackaging and selling blankets claiming to be manufacturing them locally.
“The blankets are being fraudulently declared so that the duty and taxes are lower.”
Online Reporter