Zimbabwe may ban import of unsuitable tyres

HARARE: The Zimbabwean government has set up a technical committee to explore the proposal to ban imported tyres that do not conform to the local climate and roads, a government official said.

Late last year, the government announced that it was considering banning the importation of low quality tyres.

"The technical team will study on the import ban as the government feels that the ban is necessary as road accidents caused by these unsuitable tyres continue to rise," Transport Communication and Infrastructure Development permanent secretary Patson Mbiriri told Zimbabwean news agency New Ziana on Thursday.

He added that the rising demand for tyres in Africa has led to stiff competition among tyre manufacturers worldwide seeking to satisfy the African markets.

In the past, European tyre manufacturers had a monopoly over the African markets but in recent years China and other Asian countries have made inroads.

This has led to the proliferation of cheap quality products as some companies prefer to import low-priced products, he said, adding that local manufacturers also stood to benefit from the ban.

"(Many) imported tyres are meant for cold weather conditions not experienced in Africa and the manufacturers out there don't consider that. Local manufacturers can supply the market with appropriate tyres," he said.

Burst tyres have emerged as the main cause of accidents on the country's roads, he said.

 -Bernama