By PASSY  HAACHIZO –

THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has waged war against sale of second-hand underwear.
ZABS head of marketing and public relations, Hazel Zulu said the bureau had instituted measures aimed at intercepting the merchandise at entry points.
She said ZABS would also continue sensitising members of the public on the dangers of using second-hand underwear.
Ms Zulu said ZABS was aware that the underwear that did not meet the standards was being concealed and transported by unscrupulous importers.
Ms Zulu said ZABS had so far confiscated 90 bells of underwear in the first quarter of this year. The survey conducted by the Sunday Times found that the sale of banned second-hand underwear had continued on the streets of Lusaka despite caution from relevant authorities on the consequences.
At Lusaka’s markets at Kamwala, City, Soweto, Kulima Tower and Lumumba roads and other streets around Lusaka, the prohibited merchandise was being openly displayed and sold.
Some traders, who sought anonymity, said their clients opted purchasing the product from the stands as they were cheap and durable compared to new products which they said were imitations.
“If you go to some of these chain stores you will find bras at K45 and K20 in Kamwala shops but us we are selling them at a give-away price, just K5,” said a female trader at Kulima Tower.
Another trader on Lumumba Road said she had specific customers that opted to buy men and women underwear at K5 and K4 negotiable which would be more expensive in shops.
The trader only identified as Bana Chanda said underwear sold on the street were not different from those that people claimed to be of quality as they were also durable and unique.