Government has lifted a ban imposed on the importation of secondhand underwears.
In 2020, government announced the ban on underwears in the country with an iam of restricting imports and encourage local manufacturing.
But today, the protesters stormed the parliament to demand the lifting of the ban, which has been granted by the ministry of Trade and Industry.
In addition to that, government has ordered the reduction of second hand clothes wholesale prices, effective tomorrow.
“we had meeting as vendors brought two main concerns; the first demand was to allow them import second hand undergarments, which we have granted them permission”
“The second request was on price escalation and we have agreed with wholesalers to go back to December prices effective tomorrow” said Gwengwe.
On how the reducing prices will work, Gwengwe said this will happen with the support from the Reserve Bank of Malawi who will release some dollars to support the second hand sector.
Gwengwe said tomorrow his ministry will meet representatives from other sectors responsible for basic needs goods to discuss how efficient government can allocated forex.
Representative for the Asian Community wholesalers, Habib Ali made an assurance of adhering what has been agreed during the meeting.
“So tomorrow morning we have been ordered to open shops with December pricing and then apply for the licenses which government has revoked today” said Habib.
Meanwhile, one of the section chairs from Tsoka Free market Layson Chinunga expressed delight with the responses and measures set by government.
