Government introduces new licences Minister Bimha
Minister Bimha

Minister Bimha

Enia Nyakudzambara Business Reporter
The Ministry of Industry and commerce has introduced new import and export licences with special security features on selected goods as a way of curbing rampant corruption and smuggling through the country’s border points.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha told Parliamentarians on Wednesday that local industry was being negatively affected by cheap imports into the country, some of which were being smuggled through the country’s borders.

“There are a number of fake import and export permits in the country, which is affecting our industry.
“As a consequence, my ministry has given a directive that all import and export licenses have to be renewed so that new ones can be issued that have special security features,” he said.

The minister said anyone wishing to import the selected good will be obliged to apply for an import licence from the ministry.
Minister Bimha said his ministry was also working on a number of interventions to protect local industry.

He said Government will support local manufacturers by way of removing duty on raw materials.
The minister added that they were also looking at reviewing tariffs and duties with a view to restricting some imports coming into the country.

He said the reviewing of duties is not a once-off exercise but will continue in consultation with local industry.
“We have meetings with industry on a regular basis where we discuss tariffs and we make the policy recommendations based on these meetings,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s trade deficit is expected to widen this year with statistics showing that the import bill so far this year is now $8,3 billion against exports of $5 billion while imports for last year were $7,6 billion against exports of $4,43 billion.

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