Zimbabwe's clothing and textile manufacturers are still unhappy with the terms of the new trade agreement with South Africa and no trade has yet taken place. The chairman of the Clothing Manufacturers Association, Steve Bowen, says the main problems are the requirement for 100% local content and the quotas restricting textiles to a maximum of four% of production and a total of 3 million units for clothing. Bowen says that Zimbabwe wants a 40% local content clause. But he sympathises with South Africa's arguments.
Its industry is in dire straits. They are facing serious problems from smuggled goods and the government is protecting them from external competition.
I don't see how they are going to allow us into the country. By Martin Rushmere
