CAPE TOWN: South Africa has flexed its economic muscle, telling Zimbabwe to reduce duty and surtax on 112 products in response to Harare’s recent trade restrictions. Last month, Zimbabwe promulgated Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016 that restricted the importation of many products in a bid to protect local industries. The import restriction has riled regional neighbours and the matter came up for discussion when Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha met his South African counterpart Rob Davies in South Africa last week.
The meeting was a follow up to the bilateral meeting of officials from the ministry of Industry and Commerce and their South African counterparts on July 20 on trade matters. Briefing journalists on Friday on the meeting, Bimha said in response to the request of a review on surtax and duty, government offered to get back to them in an official capacity in “two weeks”.
“There are 112 products which they [South Africa] want us to consider in terms of phasing down duty and surtax,” he said. “We would want to carry out consultations because some of these products would require input from other ministries and institutions.
