Product imports restricted, not banned, says Chinamasa

Finance and Economic Development Minister, Patrick Chinamasa said on Wednesday the government had not banned importation of any products but was restricting inflow of goods that are manufactured locally.

The remarks followed an outcry after reports that the government had banned importation of a wide range of products.

The list of goods said to have been banned ranged from food stuffs to furniture. potato crisps, bottled water, baked beans, salad cream, peanut butter, yoghurt, doors, window frames and a variety of plastic pipes make up the long list of products whose importation now requires special licenses.

"The Statutory Instrument referred to does not ban importation of these products," Minister- Chinamasa said in response to a question by Southerton legislator, Gift Chimanikire on why the government had banned imports.

"If you read it carefully, it merely removes those goods from the open general import license, meaning you will now require a license to import them."

Minister Chinamasa said the move was also aimed at restricting use of "hard earned foreign currency to import trinkets" which were not beneficial to the economy. Zimbabwe's trade deficit on average ranges around $3 billion yearly as imports continue to outrun exports.

"The measures being taken are targeting only those goods which are also locally produced for which we know local producers are meeting demand," Minister Chinamasa said, adding some of the local products were of better quality than imports.

Industry experts have said the move would likely benefit the struggling local manufacturing sector which was being chocked by flooding of cheap imports.

But with antiquated equipment and high production costs, critics have questioned ability of local industry to meet demand at competitive prices. Consumers have also criticised the move as restrictive as they would no longer have a wide variety of options to choose from.

But Minister Chinamasa said it was critical the nation supported the "Buy Zimbabwe" campaign to boost the capacity of the local manufacturing industry which in turn creates employment.