Edgars Group CEO, Sevious Mushosho, has commended the Government for its ongoing anti-smuggling campaign aimed at curbing the influx of second-hand and counterfeit clothing. He urged authorities to intensify these operations, emphasizing that smuggling was crippling Zimbabwe’s local clothing manufacturing and retail sector.
To strengthen its multi-agency anti-smuggling operation launched last December, the Government recently identified 19 goods that will be presumed smuggled unless importers provide genuine documentation proving duty payment. This move aligns with the Second Republic’s intensified crackdown on illicit trade. The targeted goods include alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cement, clothing, footwear, dairy products, diapers, electrical appliances, cables and accessories, ploughs and parts thereof, processed meat, rice, pasta, sugar, tyres, motor spares, washing powder, detergents, biscuits, sweets, and laundry and bath soaps.
Mushosho noted that Carousel Holdings, which operates Edgars, Jet, Carousel, and Express stores, invested USD 1.2 million in 2024 for re-tooling and plans to inject an additional USD 1 million in 2025 to expand operations. He highlighted that, thanks to Government policies, the Edgars Group is on track to reclaim its position as Zimbabwe’s leading clothing manufacturer and retailer. The company, which includes Edgars, Jet, Express, Club Plus, and Carousel, is currently producing 50,000 units but aims to increase production to 200,000 units after completing its re-tooling efforts. Edgars operates 26 branches, Jet has 37 stores, and Express runs five outlets, with plans to further expand.
As part of its resuscitation program, Edgars has seen its workforce grow to 700 employees, with a target of reaching 2,000, the number it once employed at its peak. The company is also working to reclaim its export market while supporting over 50 SMEs that supply clothing to its stores daily.
Since December last year, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has impounded goods worth approximately US$2.4 million as part of the multi-agency operation targeting importers and cross-border transporters engaged in smuggling and unethical business practices. The crackdown has resulted in the seizure of dozens of vehicles, including cross-border buses and haulage trucks, as well as the confiscation of illicit goods such as foodstuffs and second-hand clothes. According to ZIMRA, the operation involves inspections of vehicular traffic, particularly commercial and passenger transport vehicles along cross-border trade routes, to ensure compliance with import regulations.
The ongoing efforts to combat smuggling are expected to bolster the local manufacturing industry, create more employment opportunities, and stabilize the retail sector. Authorities remain committed to enforcing measures that protect the economy from illicit trade, ensuring that businesses like Edgars can thrive in a fair and regulated market.
