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Herald Reporter
Government could be losing millions of dollars in revenue through a clothing material rebate granted to local manufacturers two years ago, amid revelations that players in the industry were importing locally available material.The development is threatening to further destroy the clothing and textile industry.

Rebate on the clothing and textile industry granted by Government in 2015 sought to allow more than 50 manufacturers to import textile materials duty-free and tax-free and help revive the ailing clothing industry.

It has since emerged that manufacturers are importing tonnes of fabric, including fabrics produced locally, such as fabrics for protective clothing and T-shirts, which they should be buying from local producers to support the industry.

As a result of the rebate, some of the clothing manufacturers have since replaced or offered alternative cheap poly-cotton material for protective clothing against 100 percent Zimbabwean fabric.