Zimbabwe’s Struggle Against Illegal Chinese Plastic Imports and Environmental Impact
Zimbabwe’s Mbare marketplace is overwhelmed with illegal plastic bags mainly imported from China, which do not meet local regulations requiring a minimum thickness of 30 microns. Vendors continue selling these cheaper, substandard bags due to high demand despite knowing their legal status. This practice contributes to severe environmental issues, including widespread pollution and harm to wildlife. Efforts by the Environmental Management Agency to enforce regulations face challenges, including insufficient inspections and compliance issues among manufacturers.
At Mbare marketplace in Zimbabwe, plastic bags are ubiquitous, with many vendors selling them in response to high consumer demand. These bags, often imported from China or sourced from local Chinese companies, typically do not meet national regulations that require plastic packaging to be at least 30 microns thick, which is deemed necessary for environmental standards. A local vendor, Tichaona, acknowledged that despite understanding these regulations, the low cost of non-compliant bags leads him to offer them anyway due to consumer demand.
A significant number of customers are unaware that the plastic bags they purchase do not meet regulatory requirements. An employee from the Chinese manufacturing firm Colour Maximal mentioned that although they are informed of the required quality standards, they produce thinner bags for economic reasons, misleading consumers into believing they meet the 30-micron norm. The law explicitly prohibits the production and sale of plastic packaging thinner than this measurement, except for specified bread packaging.
The influx of inexpensive plastic imports and the rise of Chinese-owned companies dominate Zimbabwe’s plastic production landscape, exacerbating environmental concerns. Many companies exploit lax law enforcement to produce illegal, non-compliant plastics, affecting the already critical pollution situation in the country. Donald Marumbwe, a seasoned worker in the plastic manufacturing industry, pointed out that the lack of concern for quality among these companies allows consumers to buy in bulk at lower prices.
Global Press Journal conducted independent tests on samples obtained from Colour Maximal and confirmed that all tested bags fell below the legal thickness requirement. Some samples were found to be as thin as 20 microns, and bread bags tested at Mbare marketplace were recorded as being just 6 microns, far below the mandated standards. Such thin plastics pose severe environmental risks, degrading slowly and contributing to microplastic contamination in both wildlife and human food systems.
Competitive pricing motivates manufacturers to produce thinner, cheaper bags despite regulatory guidelines. Tatenda Murwira, a manager at Colour Maximal, candidly remarked, “We’re profit-oriented. It’s all about saving materials and keeping prices competitive.” This focus on profitability results in significant environmental repercussions, with improper disposal of plastic waste leading to clogged waterways and animal fatalities linked to ingestion of plastics.
The Environmental Management Agency in Zimbabwe conducts inspections to enforce compliance with plastic regulations, with fines for violators reaching up to $500. However, Murwira noted a lack of thorough inspections at his facility for over a decade, which reflects the challenges in enforcing these laws effectively. The anonymous Colour Maximal employee emphasized that the anonymity of manufacturers on the products limits accountability in the marketplace.
Plastic waste in Zimbabwe constitutes about 18% of total waste, with much improperly disposed of, leading to environmental degradation. In terms of plastic raw material imports, while South Africa was once the primary supplier, recent years have seen a notable increase in imports from China, highlighting a growing dependency on Chinese products. The value of imported plastic raw materials from China escalated from $10.9 million in 2012 to $54.8 million in 2023.
China’s strategic investments in Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, propelled by former President Robert Mugabe’s policies, have deepened economic ties. Mugabe’s promotion of China as a crucial ally has led to extensive foreign investment in key sectors, including mining and manufacturing, but also raised concerns regarding environmental regulation compliance. Professor Gift Mugano from the Durban University of Technology indicated that the intertwining of foreign investments with local politics exacerbates regulatory disregard, posing challenges for Zimbabwe’s environmental governance.
Zimbabwe has enacted measures to combat the plastic pollution crisis, including a recent tax on plastic bags, yet compliance remains a challenge as many companies ignore the regulations. A legal representative of Colour Maximal recounted instances where tax compliance was enforced with threats of closure for non-compliance. Nonetheless, the company maintains it is fully compliant with tax obligations.
Upon visiting another plastic manufacturing entity, registered as Liwei Wang, representatives acknowledged producing bags measuring only 20 microns, failing to comply with regulations. Their documents further revealed an expired tax clearance certificate, highlighting gaps in regulatory enforcement. The overarching issues faced by Zimbabwe highlight the complexities of balancing foreign investment, economic growth, and environmental health.
Zimbabwe faces significant challenges in regulating the plastic industry, especially with the influx of thinner, non-compliant bags primarily imported from China and produced by local companies. Despite existing laws against such practices, enforcement remains weak, allowing companies to operate without accountability. Environmental degradation from inadequate plastic waste management continues to grow, posing substantial risks to wildlife and human health. Efforts to mitigate these challenges, such as implementing taxes on plastic bags, have shown limited effectiveness due to widespread evasion and lack of rigorous inspections. It is imperative for Zimbabwe to strengthen regulatory frameworks and uphold environmental standards to combat the growing plastic crisis.
Original Source: www.newsday.co.zw
