Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has thrown its support behind the government’s recent import ban of some basic commodities under Statutory Instrument 64 saying the move saves the local industry.
The import ban which some have called a restriction or regulation, requires that one acquire a licence to import commodities such as coffee creamers (Cremora), Camphor creams, white petroleum jellies and body creams.
Also banned are salad cream, peanut butter, Maheu, canned fruits and vegetables, pizza base and ice-creams among some of the goods.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting in Harare the organisation’s president Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said the move was the right way despite recent protests which have seen Zimra property destroyed in Beitbridge.
“We applaud the government for the recent Statutory Instrument 64 which prohibits the importation of some goods (without licence) as the situation prior was one of the reasons why industry was struggling”.
“As grain millers, the uncertainty if the private industry will get some space against cheap imports, militates against contract farming”, he said.
The import ban has raised a storm in a country where thousands are into the brisk business of importing and selling goods from neighbouring South Africa after the local manufacturing industry succumbed to a medley of economic challenges.
Last week demonstrators in the border town of Beitbridge torched a Zimra warehouse and waged running battles with police as they displayed their displeasure at the government which they have described as insensitive to their plight.
Mr Musarara was responding to calls for increased contract farming in Zimbabwe as the country faces an El Nino drought struck season which has left nearly 5 million people in urgent need of food assistance.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently coordinating efforts to provide assistance to the many rural people facing these challenges.
Its resident coordinator Bishow Parajuli said it was their mandate to see to it no one starved and promised to continue offering assistance to the government.
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