The
Ministry
of
Industry
and
Commerce
has
directed
the
Competition
and
Tariff
Commission
(CTC)
and
the
National
Competitiveness
Commission
(NCC)
to
conduct
a
study
to
better
understand
capacities
across
the
value
chain
and
problems
limiting
linkages
between
its
various
stages.
The
government
has
proposed
to
raise
by
300
per
cent
the
customs
duty
on
selected
imported
PSF
with
dyed
woven
fabrics
of
cotton
to
support
domestic
production
and
strengthen
the
cotton-to-clothing
value
chain.
The
proposal
was
announced
by
Finance,
Economic
Development
and
Investment
Promotion
Minister
Mthuli
Ncube
while
presenting
the
budget
recently.
“I,
further
propose
to
review
materials
benefitting
from
the
clothing
manufacturers
rebate
to
exclude
the
above-mentioned
fabrics,
subject
to
quality
and
competitive
pricing
from
local
manufacturers.
These
measures
take
effect
from
January
1,
2026,”
he
said.
According
to
the
Zimbabwe
Clothing
Manufacturers
Association
(ZCMA)
chairman
Jeremy
Youmans,
it
is
too
early
to
implement
these
measures
as
the
study
results
are
yet
to
be
released.
“The
intended
duty
of
40
per
cent
should
only
apply
to
finished
goods,
not
fabric,
which
is
a
raw
material
for
the
clothing
industry
and
an
intermediate
goods
for
home
textile
manufacturers,”
Youmans
was
quoted
as
saying
by
domestic
media
reports.
“The
additional
$2.50
per
kg
can
make
the
duty
rate
rise
to
between
60
and
90
per
cent
depending
on
the
weight
of
the
fabric,”
he
added.
Meanwhile,
the
Zimbabwe
Textile
Manufacturers
Association
(ZITMA)
hailed
the
government’s
proposal,
saying
more
needs
to
be
done.
The
issue
of
second-hand
clothing
must
be
decisively
dealt
with
as
it
continues
to
play
havoc
with
the
market,
ZITMA
said.
Source:
Zimbabwe
urged
to
defer
proposed
customs
duty
hike
on
specific
fabrics
–
AlchemPro