The government of Zimbabwe has with immediate effect removed a ban on imports of basic commodities due to shortages in the country that were sparked by panic buying after prices of things as well as petrol went up.
A full cabinet resolution taken on Tuesday is that Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017- Control of Goods (Open General Import Licence) will be temporarily repealed until the situation normalises.
“Cabinet notes with concern that the basic commodities continued to be in short supply despite increased production by suppliers‚ thereby reflecting persistent panic and speculative buying‚” reads the resolution.
Items such as cement‚ bottled water‚ animal oils‚ body creams‚ cheese‚ cereals‚ ice cream‚ wheat flour and cooking oil‚ to mention a few‚ can now be brought into the country by individuals.
Zimbabwe experienced shortage of food and commodities in the past few weeks. Cooking oil which normally retails for $3.35 (bond notes) for two litres has gone up and has been surfacing on the black market for $15 (bond notes) or an equivalent of US$4 in either South African rand or Botswana pula.Most supermarkets and grocery stores were found empty.
Local manufacturers feel the government’s decision to lift the ban on imports will affect them negatively since the instrument was put in place to protect local industries.
