Zimbabweans Buying Used Under Garments From Second Hand Clothes Dealers As Economy Worsens
13 November 2020
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Second Hand underwear for sale in Harare.

As Zimbabwe’s economy continues to struggle, many of the country’s citizens have reverted to buying and selling used knickers.

This is despite the government banning the sale of used undergarments in 2011 through a Statutory Instrument (SI).

The revelation that many were disobeying this was made in the latest auditor-general’s (AG) report, which is part of a quality control mechanism for goods imported into the country.

AG Mildred Chiri noted: “In Mutare and Bulawayo, second-hand undergarments were being sold on the streets.”

Chiri said the second-hand fabric business had grown to the point of stifling the growth of the local clothing and textile industry.

“Second-hand clothes and undergarments were being smuggled into the country and sold at designated flea markets such as Mupedzanhamo in Mbare [in Harare] and Chinotimba Flea Market in Victoria Falls. My visit to Mbare revealed there were 10 warehouses which were packed to capacity with bales of second-hand clothing,” reads Chiri’s report.

Used undergarments can go for US$1 (about R15.60) for three at the flea markets, while new ones in shops sell north of $10 (around R156) each. This is at a time when government workers such as teachers and nurses have been earning an average of $75 (about R1,170 – or about Z$7,000 in the local currency).

This week the government awarded its workers with a 40% salary increment that was widely rejected. Teachers called it a mockery and vowed not to return to work. Civil servants argued that they should get paid an equivalent of US$520 (R8,840) – an amount they earned before October 2018.

The new salaries will see the least paid civil servant take home Z$14,528. This is below the poverty datum line, however, which is the minimum consumption expenditure necessary to ensure a household can survive every month.

Recently released statistics from Zimstat, the country’s official statistics agency, show a family of five requires Z$17,244 for basics.

Civil servants who spoke to TimesLIVE said because utilities such as electricity have gone up by almost 100% within two months, their salaries have been further eroded. They said second-hand clothes were all they could afford.

TimesLIVE