CAPE TOWN: The recent import restriction by Zimbabwe was under discussion at a bilateral meeting of officials from the ministry of Industry and Commerce and their South African counterparts last week. Early this month, Zimbabwe removed many products from the Open General Import Licence, saying importation of such products would now require permits. The import licence costs $30 per quarter and is given only after one has managed to satisfy authorities why those products should be brought into the country.
The move has unnerved the South African government and its Department of Trade and Industry has warned that such restrictions would have negative implications on intra-regional trade. Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha told Standardbusiness last week that Zimbabwean and South African officials met for a “routine meeting” on Wednesday to discuss bilateral issues and Zimbabwe explained the reason behind the promulgation of Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016.
