THE parliamentary portfolio committee on Industry has called on the government to impose stricter regulations on textile imports in an effort to revive the local sector.
Presenting the committee’s report during the recent pre-budget seminar, committee chairperson Clemence Chiduwa emphasised the need for collective action to restore the industry.
“Over the past 20 years, locally produced fabrics have been systematically replaced by imported fabrics, particularly from low-cost Asian markets,” he stated.
“This trend has been driven by several structural and policy gaps, including: a lack of effective import management systems, tariff loopholes, the absence of deliberate procurement policies, and limited support from wholesalers and retailers.
Chiduwa clarified that import management should not equate to an outright ban on fabric and garment imports.
“Instead, it should aim to: introduce import permits and control mechanisms for fabrics and garments across the board, enforce proper tariff classification and border verification to curb under-invoicing and misdeclaration, follow up with importers and verify that stocks of fabrics are bona fide imports with the necessary duties paid, harmonise tariff structures to close loopholes that encourage fabric substitution and include key textile products on designated smuggling lists to improve enforcement.”
