Zimbabwe burns US$140m on vanity imports in five years

ByEnigma 808

A jaw-dropping US$140 million flew out of Zimbabwe over five years just on beauty and grooming imports, and the government is finally sweating about it.

Top import categories by spend

  • Makeup and skincare gobbled up US$43.6 million total.
  • Eyebrow and eyelash products hit US$22 million somehow.
  • Dental-care imports ran about US$20 million collectively.
  • Perfumes and deodorants accounted for US$16.4 million.

2025 spending snapshot alone

  • Zimbabwe dropped US$9.6 million on makeup last year.
  • Hair extensions and false lashes cost US$8.2 million.
  • Perfume imports added another US$2.9 million separately.
  • The total cosmetic-related bill reached nearly US$29.9 million.

Smaller but still noteworthy numbers

  • Petroleum jelly imports totaled US$13.6 million over five years.
  • Human hair and wigs added US$8.5 million cumulatively.
  • Even dental floss racked up US$72,395 in imports.

Government flags the foreign-currency drain

  • Mangaliso Ndlovu called these imports vanity products.
  • An Industrial Policy is headed to the Cabinet for approval soon.
  • Local production capacity exists but stays underutilized.

Author

  • Enigma XO avatar (80x80)

    Besides writing and being a content creator, Enigma 808 sometimes likes to watch paint dry on walls, listening to ASMR while timing snails racing. Such is life.