Business

Second-Hand Apparel Imports Hurt Tanzania's Textile Industry

Tanzanian textile manufacturers can meet the demand from its garment manufacturers, provided they are protected from cheap imports, believes Fadhili Mbise, of A to Z Textiles. At present, many textile manufacturers prefer to export to the regional markets of the East, Central and Southern Africa.

"We sell more outside than in the local market," he said, adding that if the total production was intended for the internal market, there was enough capacity to meet domestic demands.

He further said, "To promote local textile manufacturing industries, there should be government concerted efforts to protect them from low quality garment imports."

He said the imports of second hand clothes has been increasing without taking into account the immense damage to the investments of domestic manufacturers, jobs and the economy.

He said the prices of garment made locally were affordable for all classes of people and sometimes cheaper than prices of imported second-hand clothes. Taxing second-hand clothes can be one of the measures to reduce importats.

Also, instead of dealing with second-hand clothes, traders can start buying and selling locally manufactured garments and earn better returns. Trade of second-hand clothes popularly known as (mitumba) trade has become the mainstay of millions of informal traders.

It has in fact created employment down to the village level, although essentially not contributing to the nations' economic development. As used-clothes trade flourished, textile industries miserably declined and many of them have closed shop.