Zimbabwe has moved to ban the sale of second-hand clothes, citing concerns over drug smuggling and threats to national security.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe told Bulawayo City councillors and management that the move is aimed at cracking down on criminal networks using the trade as a cover for drug trafficking. He said bales of imported used clothing have been found to conceal drugs and even bed bugs, posing both health and security risks.
Minister Garwe linked the influx of second-hand clothes to the collapse of Zimbabwe’s domestic cotton industry, which has left thousands unemployed and shut down manufacturing facilities in Bulawayo. He described some vendors as “slippery operators” who move frequently to evade authorities, warning that they are contributing to substance abuse problems in communities.
While Garwe acknowledged the economic contribution of honest vendors, he emphasized that the government would take decisive action against anyone using the trade to distribute drugs. The ban also extends to night vending across the country, following an import prohibition on used clothing imposed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in October last year.
