Zimbabwe govt. to regulate aluminium sulphate imports, prioritising local manufacturers' competitiveness

The landlocked country in the southern Africa region, Zimbabwe, is taking significant steps to regulate the importation of aluminium sulphate, focusing on reducing cost barriers for local manufacturers to enhance their competitiveness in domestic, regional, and international markets.

During a recent visit to Chilmund Chemical, a Bindura-based water treatment chemicals manufacturer, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu underscored the importance of supporting local production. He visited the facility and reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to identifying and addressing cost-related challenges faced by Zimbabwean manufacturers, ensuring they can effectively export their products.

Aluminium sulfate is widely used in water purification and chemical phosphorus removal from wastewater. It acts as a coagulating agent, facilitating the clumping of fine particles in water treatment processes. This compound is particularly valuable in treating drinking water, sewage, and wastewater. By causing suspended impurities to form larger particles, aluminium sulfate makes it easier to settle at the bottom or be filtered out, a process known as coagulation or flocculation. This results in cleaner, safer water for consumption and environmental discharge.

Minister Ndlovu also stressed the need for stricter regulations on imported goods, particularly ensuring they meet required quality standards. Many cheap imports, he noted, bypass proper testing procedures, with some even being smuggled into the country, posing a threat to local industries.

The government's initiative is seen as a step toward fostering a more sustainable and competitive manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe while safeguarding against substandard and illegal imports.

The Minister said, "There are plans to enforce regulations to ensure that imports comply with standards, and limiting imports may be considered as a last resort to prevent the influx of cheap, poor-quality products that could harm local businesses."

Chilmund Chemicals' Business Development Manager, Nicholas Bhero, noted that the surge in demand for low-cost imports has significantly challenged the company's competitiveness.

As a result, standards for aluminium sulphate products have been developed in partnership with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ).