Malawi govt asked to ban Kaunjika, open way for local design
Traders in Malawi will be banned from selling second-hand clothes – known as Kaunjika, the Chinyanja word for “bundles” – if calls by textile and garment industry are accepted by government to help the country revive its own textile industry, which was wiped out in the late 1990s as the country started opening its markets to foreign competition.
When Minister of Industry Roy Kachale visited the textile and garment industry players in Lilongwe and Mchinji to appreciate the quality of the products and challenges they face, players in the textile and garment industry made a call that government should ban used clothing to boost local manufacturing
Kachale said it was Ministry of Trade which could act on that.
He, however, said government will strive to empower local producers and promote the ‘Best buy made in Malawi’, to preserve foreign currency and empower people to achieve tangible socio-economic development.
“We are giving the opportunity to small and medium enterprises, but we are not going to do it if we are not sure of the quality that is required,” said Kachale.
The minister said most uniforms or garments in State security agencies are imported; hence government took a deliberate step to ensure that products manufactured locally are prioritised in procurement.
Kachale said local designers and manufacturers should collaborate and take baby steps to push the industry towards maturity.
He said the Tonse Alliance led government is set to incentivise local manufacturers.
But Textiles and tailoring Cooperative chairperson Linley Chimwaza said ban on second-hand clothing was one step towards making conditions more favourable for a local scene to eventually flourish.
“Malawians have the capacity but we need government support and protection to grow the industry and the economy,” Chimwaza said.
She said they want a ban of Kaunjika to spur them to start shaping the future of fashion in Malawi.
Malawi government – through the ministry of trade – already imposed a ban on the importation of second-hand under wears is in line with the new Control of Goods Act, which aims to restrict imports and encourage local manufacturing.
Government contends that used pants – and other second-hand goods like handkerchiefs and mattresses – are unhygienic and could pose a health hazard.
Unwanted clothing from the Western world was imported at such a low cost that local textile factories and self-employed tailors could not compete.
Abiti Chezunana, another market trader, defended the second-hand business, saying the West’s cast-offs were so cheap that local textile factories and self-employed tailors could not compete.
“Most Malawians depend on Kaunjika and spend hours looking and searching. Many fashion lovers they like the diversity of second-hand,” she said.
She said he was not against the plan to develop local industries but said the fair thing would be to allow competition for second-hand clothes because “people should be allowed to have choices”.
Betchani Tchereni, economics lecturer at The Polytechnic, a constituent College of the University of Malawi, said government should introduce hefty taxes on second-hand clothes as one way to protect the local industry.
He argued that domestic demand for locally made clothes was being suffocated by cheap, second-hand clothes.
Minister of Finance Felix Mlusu announced in the 2020/21 Budget Statement that government will prioritise the local manufacturing industry when buying textile products such as uniforms for security agencies, among others.
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The challenge of being led by elitists. Muzivala crown fashion muli phee. Iwo azikaitanitsa zovala ku joweni
Do you read the labels of the clothes you call fashion,quality etc?
Made in China,Vietnam,Thailand,India etc.
I don’t think they grow cotton in those countries, I don’t think they export everything and start importing kaunjika.
Africans are very easy to eliminate from the surface of the earth through their obsession with anything foreign
Show us ghe malawi made clothes, instead you are advertising kaunjika and the ministers salute
Ife tinazolowera kubvala msapato Za belo ma Nike, adidas,Jordan ,vans all-star, and 1and mukaunji mumapezeka ma Jean a original and ma t-shirt abho ndiye mukufuna tibwelele Moyo wa chikale omabvala kutchena, ngondola tizioneka ngati azimwale anthu pano anazindikira ukubvala ma label muganize bwino
You mean you want to take us back tidzibvala makhakhi
The issue of insulting the leadership of this country does not stand. What many of us do not know is that most issues appear in this column say burning of clothes etc are not coming from one person at all. The President and his Vice discuss these matters before they are published.The best way to join their ideas is to simply advise them promptly and not shouting or insulting them like this guy who claims to have travelled extensively dr.love. President Chakwera had nothing to do with it. Please Malawians do not take their positions (Chakwera and Chilima) for granted. Elections were in favour of those two whilst as the other two lost and ends there thus after being confirmed by MEC. You still want Malawi to be robbed like before? Cadet reason for your children.
What do you mean the president does not know about this? Do you think a mere minister can ban kaunjika without being sent by the president? No no no. What I can agree with you is that it has nothing to do with Chilima. Chilima is too smart for this. I wished he were the leader.
Iwe ndi leadershipiyo pachakuti panu. Busy kubwela ndi nzeru zopusa. Mukamwe madzi ometela mavuzi. Zitsilu inu eti. Can’t you introduce your new shops without banning.Tikakudyelani Kumwamba?
Chonsecho Machine osokera amapangidwa kunja, nanu pangani anu basi koma its very undemocratic to limit anthu choices of zovala zomwe akugula. we buyzoval from TZ , RSA Kenya USA UK Turkey etc and these are not 2nd Hand. do you mean to say these do not affect your industry. Nzeru zakutherani basi, go back to school or reinvent new designs osati zovala mukusokazo
Mzotheka with strategy, ask me and will help
Considering Malawi does not have textile mills to produce polyester, silk, denim, fleece Malawi is forced to import raw finished goods into the country. To assist the home industry Government should be looking at reducing tariffs and duty on certain fabrics such as polyester and cotton. To suddenly stop the import of 2nd hand clothes is ridiculous when so many depend on the sales for their own business and clothing. The suggestion is reduce one business for another. Everything stays the same no gain.
Government must start thinking outside the box Chamba a $320 Billion market was suggested yet nothing from Government yet.
I dont think that is the correct way. The correct way is for those so called local producers or designers whatever their name is to produce quality so that they can export NOT impose it on the locals. I just read I believe it was on this same platform if its not Malawi 24 that another lady in Thyolo has been ripped off her lower lip by her friend whom she owes 500 Malawi Kwacha. Imagine? That shows the level of poverty amongst our people. So when making these decisions it is wise to consider those that are in the rural remote side of Malawi. Are these so called designers gonna make nice Jeans for the gents??????? Produce quality first. You think people can wear the so called National everyday??????
These are signs that the government is running out of ideas this is why they seem to be groping around like a headless chicken. What sort of economy does malawi have up to the point of banning second hand clothes business? In developed countries that is ongoing. I was in Canada and I found them selling second hand clothes, you go to the UK you will find second heart clothes being sold in Charity Shops like The British Heart Foundation and many more on the highstreets. Whatever surpluses is shared with poverty stricken countries like Malawi and beggars in Malawi have the audacity to choose what cloth or gift to accept, really? Kusowa zonena eti? Kaunjika ku Malawi wabwera ndi DPP? Ndimayesa analiko even nthawi ya Kamuzu, who is Chakwera to start rewriting history?
Point of correction ; Kaunjika is CHICHEWA word for second hand clothes. It is not Chinyanja.
Yes that is true. It means to accumulate. It is from the word “ku unjika”
Kaunjika alakwachani awaso kusowa ma plan
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/business-54164397
Ruwanda is on right path, ah Malawi ma comment kuziwa Ku mapanga outline mavuto koma zero solutions. Ulesi ulesi. Tonse gov yikutha nchito apa, kaunjika must stop
Rwanda? You only know half the story.
i like this sentiment very much.. Malawians thrive on problems and rarely go in solution mode.. we like to point out what is wrong, what could be wrong etc.. but we dont ask is there any thing that I (as a citizen) can do about it? we only think the government is the solution to our problems. Government is just an enabler of opportunities and the execution lies with each and every one of us (20million)
I have now read the Rwanda BBC chagua (2nd hand textiles) and Utexrwa documentary. I still believe Malawians are happy with kaunjika. I have been happy with kaunjika for 62 years – from my days at Chichiri near Independence Arch to my retirement home in Thekerani. Good day.
Dont mention Rwanda. U have no idea of what is happening in Rwanda the violation of trade agreements and retaliation. Actually as we speak the whole move just promoted imports from China while poor folks are ever suffering. Plus u cant compare a middle income country like Rwanda to Malawi. An impoverished like Malawi who can buy your expensive clothing. Find ways to produce at a lower cost and proce fairly then there perhaps that argument can work.
Imeneyo ndiye MCP imene enafe timaidziwa. MCP you ikukumbukira za China Robin Bridge shirts, Crown Fashion shirts and the LL( Leather and Luggage) bags. White Kutchena mkati. MCP Woyeeee
Your decision is not of majority,we are in democratic government we use to dress our kids through cheapest kaunjka,Dnt think that all malawians amakhala kummpanda,think about poor malawians pliz,and some they are surviving through kaunjka business.
It’s very clear Chakwera and company had and have no clear plan of how to run the country.akugenda
Achitsiru inu etiiii! Is it Chakwera who is proposing this? …….Shist!
Do you think the minister can ban kaunjika without being sent by Chakwera. Nanunso maganizidwe anu
It is not the Minister proposing the ban. It is the chairman of the textile and garments industry. Read the article carefully.
Basitu kuvala panti tisiya. Ife mwado timatola pakaunjika. Tizingoyenda malispyata basi. Bunobuno. Wa Adam,matako pamtunda basi.
Zamkutu!!!! Uko nde ndimati kusowa nzeru or kusowa zochita. Minister my foot!! Almost every malawian or lets say the majority of the people around the globe depend on kaunjika even ku USA mukapeza ndithu makaunjika. Maiko olo olemela anthu ena timadalila kaunjikayo. Im not against the empowerment or promoting or what so ever of our textiles but think tank. Umphawi wathu tiziuvomeleza ambili sangakwanitse the prices will be so very high. Think of anthu a kumudzi amene miyezi imadusa osakwanisa olo kugula nchere. Enanu mukumaganiza mopusa cz mwakula ndi spoon ya shuga pakamwa. Mukamakhuta ma tea ndi ma coffee a ulele mma office mwanumo ife zachibwana shegu! Takhazikitsani mfundo zokomela aliyese. Chitenje chenichenichi cha malawi kudula kuposa cha tanzania. Mafuta ophikila chimtengo kuno kuposa a mozambique. Osamabwera ntimfundo tachibwana!!
sneaker ya kaunjika mmaidziwa koma agalu inu
It’s a good idea but the problem is that Malawians products are expensive than imported products and most people in the village can not afford with such high prices and this will not promote competition on the market and again this will affect people that like fashions
awa ndi maganizo awuchitsiru. Ku Malawi kuli makampani opanga zovala?Poor quality and expensive rubbish is all you produce.Shupiti
hahah such myopic thinking. Don’t you think that is a business opportunity for YOU to leverage on? we are our own worst enemies sure..
That would be a great idea if textile industries were run by indigenous Malawians or at least Europeans. Before 1994 people employed in textile and other industries were paid good salaries, but then came Amwenye, people are getting ma 42,000 kwacha per month (ask around). These amwenye take everything. They want to make profits 1000%. They wont hire our graduates, instead they bring in people from india to take all important posts, but they will leave machine operations to indiginous Malawians who are paid ma 18,000 kwacha per fortnight. I say we first take control of our industries.
Empower malawians to own big things. most malawians are not industrious in their thinking, but industrialization is the way to go. lets make products, lets make products, lets produce.
Right now we can all agree that a good number of malawians are producing.
You can see green houses for vegetables here and there, some local chicken farmers raising thousand of chickens per farm. We are seeing people on our local tvs who have made big strides in different fields almost at industrial levels, so at least there is a direction, We are getting somewhere, but until malawians have that capacity to own industries kaunjika must remain. otherwise you will deprive malawians of a business (kaunjika) that is currently keeping them off from the brutality of indians. Baning kaunjika now will only make amwenye SUPER SUPER rich. The idea is great koma osapanga Phuma ayi. take slow. ONE STEP AT A TIME.
A very good idea, but a’m afraid if this is trully going to empower the local Malawians not these foreign parasites, slave dealers Amwenye.
How much do you pay your workers?
No need to ban Kaunjika,not only affordable for the majority.but better quality as well,the government should tread carefully on this, unless thy want an quick exit.the rhetoric on ma amwenye is misplaced,ask the government to increase the minimum wage and they will have little choice but to comply.i don’t know if you could pay the workers any better,even the folks on both sides of the august house skirted round the issue,wonder why?
Agree. Move a motion to ban Mwenyes & Chinese off all these small businesses like Kaunjika, area 2 for example.
By the way, where is the cotton to be used by the local textile industry?
Way to go. Please don’t be distracted by the negative comments. Tibvomereze mtsogolo muno tikawona ubwino wake. Next should be a ban on second hand imported cars. We need to have facilities that will enable Malawians to buy new or fairly used cars from dealerships under soft terms. Ndi zotheka with good policies in place. Tisauzolowere umphawiwu chonde
Tonse government won’t last. Mark my words achoke achoke Protests before 5 years. All economies are suffering and you institute stupid policies, poor timing. People are already hit hard.
Bambo Bauleni, ndinu Cadet ndimakudziwani. It sounds a good idea but this should not be one way of making these dirty pigs (Amwenye) get rich. Becoz these children of Muhammad they ar making Malawians to suffer, lets flash them out like what Idi Amin of Uganda did, thats the only way for Malawians to survive otherwise we r doomed.
It takes one to know another.
Where is idi Amin now,ma amwenye are still in Uganda progressing well.
Bauleni is sure a cadet,but he is entitled to an opinion,whether one agrees with him or not.
Very Stupid idea.Mumangokhala ndi nzeru za campaign basi koma implementation manyaka enieni.
Mukufuna malova achuluke mumizinda yathu?
Very stupid idea.Nzeru zakutherani DTI? Mumangokhala nd I nzeru za campaign nasi koma implementation many aka eneni.
Is there any Malawi Textile Company which Produce Good quality Cloth? The Answer is Non
If we are Talking about DW Mapeto Textiles there Cloth is Shit Cloth Compare to Tanzania and Zambia as they are Still producing Quality Cloths
Despite Malawi having Cotton Malawi is Not able to produce the Cloth Malawi has to import
As Malawi is Dependant on Imports for Raw Materials for Manufacturing
So it is possible for Malawi to Manufacture the cloths in Malawi it self if the Investments Policies are favourable to the investors
True
yes we have Malawian textile that produce high quality cloth, koma it is exported sigulisidwa locally, zomwe amagulisa locally zimakhala second class not first class. that Mapeto DWSM you have mentioned amapanga produce high quality cloth but amapanga export
Ndukuuzani. Nkhutukumve za anthu zenizeni
Mungolozedwa mupange zopusazo muone kuti a Malawi achita nanu chiani. Mukakhuta kundale kwanuko do not think kuti munapambana pachisankho ndi nzeru zanu. People were only tired of DPP they can as well be tired of you. How many people depend on kaunjika?
This is MCP i know. Very calous and ruthless creatures. They did the same before 1994. What is your problem Chakwera. I know Chilima is not party to this stupid think. He is too sharp koma vuto ndi Chakwera. What is the problem with giving people choices. Those who want new clothes amakagula. Those of us who depend on kaunjika let us be. I regret voting for this man bola anakakhala Chilima.
Mwayamba kusuta Kanundu eti? Kaunjika timagula chovala K500.00. Kodi zatsopano zanuzo tizizagula K500.00? Muwauze kuti azipanga zotchipa tiwagula. Koma tisaphwanyirane ufulu wogula ngati mizitipatsa zaulere.Mwakanika kutsitsa fetereza apa osatipusitsa.Ndi anthu angati akupindura ndi kaunjika?
I agree with you 100%. This employs a lot of people. it’s there in every small market countrywide. Govt has to find middle ground here or find a way to slowly phase it out but an outright ban is criminal.
No need for middle ground,people buy what they can afford.
Foolish and selfish move.