Harare — LAST months's scrapping of duty on information and technology equipment has landed retailers with stockpiles of imported gadgets.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti announced the new policy on ICT-related equipment -- computers, telephone, cellphone handsets and printers, among them -- in a bid to encourage use of latest technologies. He was presenting his mid-term fiscal policy review in July.

Retailers interviewed by New Ziana on Wednesday said they were making huge losses with the old stock, but were optimistic they would bounce back.

"We have resorted to lowering our prices to compete with duty-free imports, now infiltrating the market," said Reginald Mareya, the manager of a retail shop in Harare.

He said while the new policy had removed a burden from consumers, it had resulted in a setback for retailers.

Another shop-owner in Harare, Stanford Mangezi, said they were slowly overcoming the challenges brought about by the policy shift, but expressed optimism the Government would not change the policy again.

"We sympathise with the authorities, but policy consistency in future will be very crucial," he said.

Mangezi said the removal of duty on computers and their accessories would be positive in the long run.

"We will not require a lot of capital to import," he said.

Telecommunications company Econet was among the first to respond to the scrapping of duty by reducing the price of handsets.

Prior to the abolition of duty, handsets and printers attracted a duty of 25 percent.

The use of ICTs in the country is still relatively low due to low levels of development and high costs.

New Ziana.