Source: Manufactures cheer Govt on import restrictions | The Sunday Mail Jul 3, 2016
INDUSTRIES, especially manufacturers who have been struggling under the weight of increased imports, are confident that the restrictive measures adopted by Government will help them regain a foothold on the local market.The Personal Care Manufacturers Association of Zimbabwe (PCMAZ) — which is made of companies such as Crown Health Care, Datlabs, Kubi, Plus Five Pharmaceuticals, Prochem and Vaida — said Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 was a step in the right direction.
Under the current regulations, Government has reviewed the list of goods that can be imported through the general import licence.
It is now difficult to import goods that can ideally be produced by local companies.
Consumptive goods such as bottled water, sugar, soap cooking oil, mobile phones, electronics, vehicle spare parts, clothing and second hand vehicles; which account for 70 percent of the import bill, are no longer covered by the general import licence.
Likewise, second hand tyres, twines, threads, shoe polish, fertilizers, tiles and roofing materials, flash doors, beds, wardrobes, dining room suites and office furniture have become difficult to import.
Last week, PCMAZ said its companies can ably supply the local market.
“We would like to thank Government and Ministry of Industry and Commerce in particular for supporting local manufacturing by gazetting Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016.
“We would like to reassure the Zimbabwean market that we have the capacity to satisfy all local demand with world class quality and competitively priced personal care products such as camphor creams, body creams and lotions,” said PCMAZ in a statement.
Industry estimates that the country has spent more than US$50 billion importing sundry items such as toothpicks, onions, tomatoes and apples in the past seven years.
Figures from the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency show that the trend spilled to this year despite measures adopted in the 2016 National Budget to stem the tide.
During the first quarter of 2016, the country imported apples worth US$1 million, US$317 000 worth of chewing gum, and skin care products valued at US$3 million. Mineral water imports stood at US$690 000.
COMMENTS
PROTECTION OF INCOMPETENT MANUFACTURERS! INEFFICIENT AND POOR QUALITY!
These are the same people who raided and took over companies that could compete internationally and threw thousands out of employment. They now want the same people who suffered because of company take-overs to support their insatiable appetite for flashy life styles. They have been busy donating company funds to Mugabe and Zanu PF at the expense of research and development hence they find themselves in a position where they can’t compete with their South African counterparts. Some of them turned viable companies into brothels and shebeens because they think sex and beer drinking are big businesses in Zimbabwe.
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It would be interesting to see some comparisons or studies done to show differences in the performance of vehicles that have been well-maintained as opposed to ones that haven’t.