HARARE: In June, the government of Zimbabwe introduced Statutory Instrument 64/2016 that banned some 42 import items and provoked anger among informal traders who were buying them from South Africa for resale locally.
The ban sparked violent demonstrations at the Beitbridge border post that connects into South Africa and was temporarily shut as protesters clashed with the police. Chiratidzo Mabuwa, the Industry and Commerce deputy minister, has revealed that government is considering more items to include in the banned list so as to protect local industries.
Speaking at a recent Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) conference, Mabuwa said banning some imported products would avoid the dumping of substandard goods in Zimbabwe by foreign companies and he defended import bans as a worldwide practice.
South African companies exporting to Zimbabwe reacted angrily to SI 64, and informal business owners in that country joined hands with their Zimbabwean counterparts in protesting against the June ban. Zimbabwe could witness more angry demonstrations if the government proceeds with the expansion of the ban.
