Smuggling, fronting shake school uniform industry

According to a report dated January 13, BEMA carried out the visits to assess industry readiness, compliance with the school uniform import restriction policy, and to investigate complaints previously reported to the association. The report was submitted to the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship.

Before the inspections, BEMA received multiple reports alleging the smuggling of restricted school uniform products, fronting by local citizens on behalf of non-citizens, poor product quality, overpricing, and the operation of staged manufacturing facilities that allegedly import finished uniforms. These concerns were particularly reported in Francistown and Gaborone.