Source: ‘New import rules will foster Zim’s economic sovereignty’ – herald
Business Reporter
The Government’s new import regulatory controls will protect local manufacturers and strengthen economic sovereignty, according to an analysis by local firm Lucent Consultancy.
According to Lucent Consultancy, the regulations, issued under Statutory Instrument (SI) 59 of 2026 (Control of Goods Act), come at a transformative juncture for the trade and industrial policy of Zimbabwe.
SI 59 of 2026 aims to protect local industry, curb foreign currency outflow, and ensure product quality by tightening import controls on items like cement, steel, footwear and food products. It also bans the importation of second-hand underwear while regulating other used clothes.
By subjecting various products (cement clinker, footwear, textbooks, noodles, toiletries) to import licenses, the legislation aims to encourage the consumption of locally produced goods and revive the local textile/garment sector.
The SI also streamlines 16 previously scattered import rules, creating a unified system aimed at strengthening formal retail chains and ensuring goods meet national safety standards.
In a statement last week, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the development marked a significant milestone in the country’s regulatory reform agenda.
Historically, the ministry said, regulation of imports and exports was dispersed across 16 separate Statutory Instruments.
“This fragmented approach often resulted in administrative inefficiencies, confusion among stakeholders, and difficulties in identifying the precise regulations applicable to specific goods. Such complexity posed unnecessary bottlenecks to trade and industry compliance.”
The measures form part of the Government’s broader strategy to accelerate import substitution, safeguard foreign currency and support domestic production.
This comes as the country pursues its medium-term development agenda espoused under National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2, 2026-2030) and Vision 2030 target of an upper-middle-income status.
Lucent Consultancy said that the policy stance signals a decisive shift away from earlier trade liberalisation policies towards a more strategic and managed trade environment.
“Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026 represents a definitive and bold reclamation of Zimbabwe’s economic sovereignty,” Lucent said in its policy analysis.
“By meticulously managing the flow of goods across its borders, the Government has created a framework where industrial growth is not left to chance but is fostered through strategic protection.”
The regulations amend the longstanding Control of Goods (Import and Export) Regulations, first introduced in 1974, modernising a framework that had remained largely unchanged for decades.
Lucent Consultancy said the new framework introduces targeted measures designed to address contemporary economic challenges, including the preservation of foreign currency reserves, revival of domestic manufacturing and the environmental risks associated with older imported goods.
“The issuance of Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026 marks a transformative juncture in the trade and industrial policy of Zimbabwe,” the firm said.
“This regulatory framework represents a strategic pivot toward aggressive import substitution, industrial protectionism and the formalisation of a historically fragmented trade environment.”
According to the analysis, the policy reflects a deliberate effort to align trade policy with national development goals.
“By amending the principal regulations established in 1974, the Government has signalled a departure from the liberalised trade paradigms of the past,” Lucent Consultancy said.
It added that the framework now “aligns directly with the National Development Strategy 2 and the overarching Vision 2030 objective of attaining upper-middle-income status.
One of the most significant changes introduced under the new regulations is the discretionary authority given to the permanent secretary for Industry and Commerce in the licensing process.
The provision allows the designated official to reject applications for import or export licences under several defined conditions.
“The introduction of Section 5A grants the secretary for industry and commerce unprecedented discretionary power to reject applications,” Lucent Consultancy said.
However, the firm emphasised that the powers are guided by clear criteria rather than arbitrary decision-making.
“This discretion is tethered to three specific criteria: the failure of goods to meet national quality or safety standards, the determination that a trade activity is prejudicial to the economic interests of Zimbabwe, or a history of regulatory non-compliance by the applicant,” the consultancy said.
The mechanism, according to Lucent Consultancy, effectively creates a quality control filter for goods entering the domestic market.
“This mechanism functions as a qualitative filter, ensuring that the domestic market is not used as a dumping ground for substandard products while prioritising the growth of local industries that have demonstrated the capacity to meet domestic demand,” the firm said.
A key pillar of the new regulatory framework is the restriction of imports that compete directly with domestic industries.
Lucent Consultancy said the exhaustive list of restricted products, particularly second-hand vehicles and textiles, is designed to address both environmental concerns and industrial decline.
“The exhaustive list of prohibited second-hand vehicles and textiles addresses the twin crises of environmental degradation and industrial decline,” the firm said.
At the same time, a licensing regime for strategic sectors such as agriculture, construction materials and pharmaceuticals is intended to stabilise demand for domestic producers.
“The licensing regime ensures that domestic manufacturers, from the Bindura Alum plant to the Harare pharmaceutical labs, have a stable and predictable market,” Lucent Consultancy said.
While acknowledging that tighter import controls may initially raise consumer costs, the consultancy argues that the long-term benefits could outweigh short-term disruptions.
“For the individual, the transition is marked by a dual narrative: the immediate challenge of rising costs for cheap imports and the long-term promise of higher quality, safer roads, and increased formal employment opportunities,” Lucent Consultancy said.
The firm also pointed to complementary economic reforms that could support the transition, including reductions in business fees and macroeconomic stability.
“The ‘Growth-First’ strategy, supported by the massive reduction in business fees and the stability of the gold-backed ZiG currency, provides the necessary cushion for this transition,” the consultancy said.
The consultancy warned that the ultimate success of the policy will depend heavily on effective implementation and the capacity of domestic industries to meet rising demand.
“As Zimbabwe moves toward its 2026 targets, the successful implementation of SI 59 will depend on institutional transparency, the efficiency of the ZimConnect digital platform and the ability of the manufacturing sector to meet the quality and volume requirements of the domestic market,” the firm said.
The ZimConnect Portal is the Government of Zimbabwe’s official electronic services (e-services) platform.
It was designed as part of the country’s e-government initiative to create a centralised, digitally connected government and make public services more accessible to citizens, non-citizens and businesses.
It allows users to apply for various statutory documents and government services online without having to visit physical offices.
“If executed with consistency, these regulations could indeed be the engine room that transforms Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income society by 2030.”
The post ‘New import rules will foster Zim’s economic sovereignty’ appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.