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As Covid-19 continues to affect businesses and economies across the globe, local dealers of imported used are lamenting that the pandemic would have a lasting impact on their business.
They say sales have dwindled drastically in the past two months.
One of the dealers near Kamuzu Stadium, along Chipembere Highway, Henry Mdoyi, said uncertainty surrounding economic activities and lack of proper information from the government has affected people’s spending patterns.
“This is the period where we sell a lot of cars but because of the pandemic we cannot feel that the good season is here as people are afraid to spend. In the past we could sell three cars per month as a group but as of now, we can only sell a single car,” Mdoyi said.
Another trader, Khuze Kuyambe, said his business is on a standstill.
Spokesperson of traders near trade fair grounds in the city, Henderson Kolala said travel restricts and lockdowns have negatively affected importation of cars.
“I go to Durban to order but now I am not able because of the lockdown in South Africa and even when we have bought the cars using the internet, it takes a lot of time to arrive in the country,” added Kolala.
A recent report by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa show that flow of imports into the country declined by 32 percent in April.
The report also projects a 25 percent drop in imports flow in May due to Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the report titled Covid-19 Impacts on Trade, customs revenue at Songwe and Mwanza borders declined by 42 percent and 16 percent, respectively.
