High import duties and congestion at the Beitbridge border post are the two main trade constraints for Zimbabwean-based, women-owned SMME businesses wanting to do business in South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister, Nyasha Chikwinya, has issued a statement urging both countries to review their customs regulations to remove barriers to trade.
Her statement follows the conclusion of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Women's Trade Expo in Musina, South Africa, over the weekend. Chikwinya said: "As women, we are ready to do business and contribute to national economic development, but we have challenges with high duty rates levied on some of the products and raw materials," she said.
According to Chikwinya, the current tariffs on the majority of products would push most women out of business. "If these tariffs and regulations were well-structured and within the reach of SMMEs, the Zimbabwe government could potentially collect up to US$5 million per day from exports or imports," she commented.
‘High import duties a barrier to trade between Zim and SA’
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