Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Globalization 1658

Name: Andrés Rivera

Code: 211971

Mitumba: Friend or Foe to Africa?

Industrial employment are more disturbing in Africa than in North Carolina, but the
underlying message of shame and sadness is the same. Critics say the mitumba boom has
not only wiped-out jobs in textile factories but has also prevented Africa from climbing the
development ladder brought by the textile industry, which leads China, China, the United
States and Japan in the industrial age. The traders, importers, custodians, and money
launderers of Mitumba's fishing trends display a surprising range of skills. They not only
cut American clothing to fit the slender African figure, but also made shirts to match the
vest.

Some critics of the Mitumba affairs have vaguely suggested that if Americans knew what
they were doing by throwing away their clothes, there would be fewer people lining up in
front of Salvation Army trucks. The problem with this formula is that even prohibiting
commercial imports does not stop the mitumba trade. Banning mitumba imports, like in
South Africa, will only encourage people to find ways to overcome obstacles. Just as Brits
can't be forced to wear woolen underwear once they've tried cotton underwear, it's virtually
impossible to turn away someone who's tried low-priced fashion. Over the past decade, the
backlash began with street protests in the late 1990s has turned into a broader reluctance
towards global trade by part of the population around the world.

The influence of Mitumba's trade also extended to Africa. However, Mitumba trade was
run by the masses rather than the elite, governed by relationships between importers,
customers, drivers, men, and merchants, rather than what many observers call "democracy"
that still exists today. Common in most African countries. Thanks to Mitumba, Geofrey
Milonge and his business partner are now gamers finding their way through the challenges
in Africa. Regardless of the economic costs and benefits of criticizing and doing business,
the mitumba is fun, and was quickly talked about by taxi drivers, shopkeepers, and high
school students.

Comment

 I believe that the mitumba is a very good opportunity to generate employment and
improve the economy of the countries. For example, in developing countries such as
those of Latin America, it would positively change people's unemployment. In
addition to the fact that there would be very good quality clothing at affordable
prices for all, which would make the happiness of the country rise considerably.
 Reusing textiles would be very helpful for the environment because it would reduce
the pollution that occurs when making clothes.
 One of the disadvantages that could exist in the mitumba is that people from higher
social classes would not buy second-hand clothes, this would reduce sales and in the
end the textiles would have to be discarded.
 The mitumba, as the reading mentions, can help with issues such as labor standards.
These are very important so that the people who work in these industries can do it in
the best way and not work in bad conditions.
 I think that by reusing clothing, large companies would lower their production,
which would mean that not so many garments are manufactured, making some
processes automatic and thus leaving aside the underage children who work in these
places.