In an analysis of Zimbabwe’s thriving informal sector, which is apparently riding on the back of porous ports of entry, ZNCC said the country’s comparatively high taxes and the prevailing foreign currency shortages have made the illegal importation of goods more lucrative.
This comes as government has imposed protectionist policies such as the Statutory Instrument 64 in a bid to protect the uncompetitive local industry, but the measure has fuelled smuggling.
Rampant corruption has also aided the illegal importation of the goods.
“Smuggling costs the country not less than $2,5 billion per year,” said ZNCC chief executive Chris Mugaga in a presentation at the Buy Zimbabwe retailers and suppliers’ conference last Friday.
“In coming up with the $2,5 billion, we looked at a number of variables that include the ease of doing business, trade across boarders as well as the rate of unemployment versus the country’s GDP,” he said.
“You will realise that Zimbabwe’s import bill declined by more than $1 billion not because we are importing less.
“The very products that S1 64 and other protectionist measures sought to remove are still very much on the market.
“It points to goods no longer coming through the formal channel.
“This channel is the informal sector driven by unemployment.
“According to official figures we have an unemployment rate of around 11 percent.”
Persistent foreign currency shortages which are forcing retailers to get the elusive United States dollar from the black market at high premiums, was also fuelling smuggling.
Only last week, illegal imports of alcohol worth 20 million Namibian dollars were seized by Namibian customs officials at Walvis Bay and subsequently destroyed.
According to a Namibian newspaper, intel communicated through a global customs network resulted in the discovery of the counterfeit consignment, which was on its way to Zimbabwe.
The consignment was allegedly shipped from the United States via Dubai to the port of Walvis Bay.
Namibia was meant to be the transit point.
A lawyer representing multinational beverages giant Diageo, which is the trademark holder of Johnny Walker and Smirnoff in South Africa, Paul Ramara, said legal action will be taken against the “counterfeiter” in Zimbabwe, as well as the South African clearing agent at Walvis Bay. Daily News
