South Africa back Zimbabwe import ban

South Africa is fully behind  Zimbabwe's controversial import ban  saying such restrictions were "necessary" to spur domestic production and job-creation.

At Zimbabwe introduced Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 to restrict importation of goods that local manufacturers can produce; such baked beans, peanut butter, cheese, fertilisers, shoe polish, body creams, coffee creamers, second-hand tyres and hardware material.

"Every country wants to create jobs.  It is about ensuring job-creation and economic development, and that we do not end up with a whole lot of cheap products from different places that make it difficult for our own manufacturing sector to grow" South Africa's Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu is quoted saying by Sunday Mail.

"Zimbabwe needs its manufacturing sector to grow, too, so does every other country. We are inter-dependent. Restrictions are necessary, in my view. Look; we have Chinese imports flooding South Africa. Where are the jobs being created? We should ask ourselves that question.

"The jobs are created somewhere else. As a country, we cannot afford to be consumers only, neither can Zimbabwe - for the rest of its life - just consume without ensuring jobs are being created at home.

‘‘They want jobs, housing, education, and those things cannot be served if our economy is not growing."

She continued: "The growth of Zimbabwe and its manufacturing sector is of interest to South Africa. And it should also be of interest to Zimbabwe where South Africa can produce things that can be sold there.

"I'm conscious of the fact that many people, especially in the region, complain that there is unfairness as trade is tilted in South Africa's favour. Zimbabwe also needs to see its product trade flow into South Africa and the rest of the region."