SA xenophobia affects cross-border traders

Margaret Dlomo, a 43 year old widow, has been able to feed and send her three children to school through flea market trade business in Bulawayo. Dlomo buys different goods such as children’s toys, cellphones, clothes and shoes from South Africa for resale at Bulawayo’s biggest flea market, Unity Village. After the anti-immigrant attacks broke out, Dlomo says she has not been able to travel to South Africa to restock her goods for resale.

“I cannot take the risk to travel to that country. I might lose my life and the goods I would have bought and I have no option but to close my flea market stand as I cannot restock,” a distraught Dlomo said.              

South Africa remains a destination of choice for many Africans fleeing poverty and lack of unemployment in their countries. It is estimated that over two to three million Zimbabweans have been driven to South Africa by the unprecedented economic decline.  Most Zimbabweans remaining in the country survive on cross border trade business. Clemence Marufu, the chairman of Cross Border Traders Forum of  Zimbabwe (CBTFZ) said xenophobic attacks in South Africa have impacted negatively on cross border trade business. “Businesses of our members have been dealt a severe blow since the xenophobic attacks broke out as they cannot travel to buy goods from that country for resale in Zimbabwe. According to our survey, there are now many empty flea market stands because of failure to restock and many are going to follow suit,” Marufu noted.       Zimbabwe, once one of Africa’s thriving economies, is on the verge of total collapse. Analysts say Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown began in 2000 when Mugabe led former freedom fighters in the seizure of white owned commercial farms for redistribution to landless blacks. Agriculture was Zimbabwe’s backbone of the economy. However after the chaotic and violent seizure of white farms, production and agricultural exports plummeted to low levels resulting in the country facing yearly food shortage.            Callisto Jokonya, the president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said, “Business people face a high risk if they travel to that country to purchase goods for restocking or to either conduct business. Business people have started counting the costs of the xenophobic attacks.”                               

Most of Zimbabwe’s industries and businesses have recorded a slide in production output owing to the harsh economic climate mirrored by high inflation which is officially standing at over 300 000 percent. The government has compounded the situation by maintaining a tight lid on prices.