Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa recently in his 2018 National Budget statement stated that on cotton fabrics the duty will increase. It is proposed to increase customs duty on cotton fabric from 10 per cent to 30 per cent plus $2,50 per kilogramme, with effect from January 1, 2018.

The problem had been compounded by limited administrative capacity to identify the various types of fabrics, resulting in importers using the capacity gap at borders to declare imported products under tariff codes which attract lower rates of duty says the finance minister.

Chinamasa also stated that to combat the false declarations, in 2018 his ministry will introduce a fabric specification declaration form that will be used in the verification of fabrics. On importation of wine, there will also be suspension of excise duty on raw wine for approved manufacturers.