Importers of second hand clothes, popularly known as mitumba, may be forced to close their businesses if the government does not reverse its recent duty hike by over 200 per cent. Do you think the government’s move was fair?

NO. I think the government is not being fair in raising the import duty on second hand clothes. I am saying this because the majority of Tanzanians depend on these clothes. These clothes are relatively cheap and they are of good quality. Our local textile industry cannot produce such clothes and meet the increasing demand of the local market. Also, one is able to find almost all kind of second hand clothes.
Lwendana Dominicus - Teacher.

YES. I see it as fair for the government to raise the import duty of second hand clothes. This is because Tanzania is a poor country with almost all its infrastructure in bad shape. Take the example of the roads in the city of Dar es Salaam; the majority of them are in a poor state. The government needs revenue to finance such development projects and this includes import revenue from second hand clothes. Also, increasing import duty will help to protect our local textile industry.
Immanuel Nzasa – Contractor.

NO. The government is not fair in raising the import duty for second hand clothes. This is because most of the high quality clothes manufactured in Tanzania are meant for export. Exports earn the nation foreign exchange. As we all know, the majority of Tanzanians are too poor to afford first hand imported clothes. So the only solution for them is to opt for second hand clothes which are affordable. If the second hand clothes are also going to be unaffordable, due to the increase of import duty, that will be too bad.
Pamela Jonathan – Housewife.

NO. I am against the raising of mitumba import duty because frankly speaking, the income of most Tanzanians allows us to afford second hand clothes which are also of good quality. Few Tanzanians can afford shopping at Woolworths and other shops which sell clothes for hundred of thousands of shillings; the majority of Tanzanians earn half of that amount per month. With the availability of mitumba, most Tanzanians can make ends meet and dress cheaply.
Zabibu Kinyogoli- Mamalishe.
 

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.