National Foods Limited has asked Zimbabwe’s Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) to investigate a surge in pasta imports, arguing that rising foreign supplies are causing serious injury to its local manufacturing business.
The CTC has since launched a safeguard investigation after finding sufficient preliminary evidence to examine the company’s claims, raising the possibility of measures to protect Zimbabwe’s sole known domestic pasta producer from rising imports.
The investigation comes after pasta imports rose 17.4 percent, from about 49.5 million kg in 2024 to 58.1 million kg in 2025.
Imported pasta made up 87 percent to 88 percent of the domestic market during that period.
On this topic
The development was announced in General Notice 1787 of 2026, published in the Government Gazette, Vol. CIV, No. 69, dated September 18.
“The applicant alleges pasta is imported in increased quantities, causing serious injury to the domestic industry,” read the gazette.
The investigation covers pasta imported from all countries, with Botswana, China, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa identified as the principal sources.
The products under consideration fall mainly under HS Code 1902, which covers pasta products including spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni and couscous.
National Foods started making pasta locally in February 2024 after previously importing it.
This shift is why the investigation covers February 2024 to December 2025.
The CTC said imported pasta made up 88 percent of the market in 2024 and 87 percent in 2025, which were 6.7 times National Foods’ local production in 2024, rising to 7.0 times in 2025.
National Foods claims in this time, its finances worsened, with bigger losses and a lower return on net assets so the investigation will examine whether imports caused this harm or whether other factors contributed.
The CTC said imported pasta was also sold at prices below those of the locally produced product, with observed price undercutting of up to 17.8 percent, so the commission will investigate whether imports have caused price undercutting, price depression or price suppression in the domestic market.
The gazette states products generally attract a 40 percent Most Favoured Nation duty and 10 percent SDC duty, while imports from SADC, COMESA and the European Union can attract zero duty under applicable preferential trade arrangements.
The commission, however, cautioned the tariff classifications are only indicative of the scope of the investigation and will examine the precise product coverage, including tariff classifications, product characteristics and any issues raised by interested parties.
The domestic product against which imports will be assessed comprises pasta manufactured in Zimbabwe and sold through comparable distribution channels, including wholesalers, retailers and supermarkets.
The commission said the increase in imports could be linked to several developments that will require further investigation, including changes in domestic consumption patterns as pasta becomes an increasingly affordable and convenient food, expansion of regional exports under preferential trade arrangements, changes in regional trading conditions and possible trade diversion resulting from trade measures imposed in other markets.
“The Commission will examine all known factors to ensure injury caused by factors other than increased imports is not attributed to increased imports,” the gazette says.
National Foods has also requested a provisional safeguard measure while the investigation is underway.
The CTC said it had preliminarily identified increased imports, high import penetration, adverse price effects and deterioration in the domestic industry’s financial condition.
It is therefore considering whether “critical circumstances” exist in which delaying action could result in damage that would be difficult to repair.
Any provisional measure would be separate from the final outcome of the investigation, which could ultimately result in a safeguard measure being imposed, modified or not adopted.
The investigation is conducted under Zimbabwe’s Competition Act (Chapter 14:28), the Safeguard Regulations, the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Safeguards and Article XIX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
The investigation has already raised questions about the balance between protecting domestic manufacturing and maintaining competition and consumer choice.
Some consumers have welcomed efforts to protect local industry, while others have questioned whether domestic production has sufficient capacity to meet national demand.
“Protect local industry, yes but the evidence must come first. Consumers also deserve competition, efficiency and fair prices,” Anthony Lunga said in an online reaction.
Goodman Mlalazi questioned whether National Foods has the capacity to supply the entire country, arguing that more domestic producers should be allowed into the market.
“National Foods does not have the capacity to supply and meet the demands of the whole country. Let’s have two or three more players in the business then we can complain,” Mlalazi said.
Others linked the protection of local pasta manufacturing to Zimbabwe’s agricultural capacity.
“If we are producing enough wheat to cover pasta and other stuff, I welcome such moves, even a total ban on imports,” Sipambi said.
Another commentator, Tonderai, warned against protectionism and argued that consumer preferences should be considered, particularly where imported products may be preferred because of price, quality or availability.
“Protectionism won’t work. The consumer has to have more say in why we prefer the imported product,” Tonderai said.
Meanwhile, the CTC has invited interested parties wishing to make submissions on a proposed provisional safeguard measure to submit written arguments and supporting evidence no later than 14 days before the proposed determination date.
The commission is required to complete the investigation within six months from the date of initiation, although the period may be extended once for a further two months.
Leave a Reply