FORBES BORDER POST The illegal trading of diamonds in Manica town in Mozambique has seen scores of desperate Zimbabweans walking into town in search of jobs and fortune.In the recent weeks, groups of Zimbabweans have been seen walking along the Mutare Beira highway in their quest for financial salvation in the Manica town. This has seen many foreigners setting up businesses in the town ranging from supermarkets, bars, restaurants and service stations.
Men and women interviewed by ***The Zimbabwean last Friday said the influx of diamonds mined from Chiadzwa in Zimbabwe came at a time when they were experiencing financial difficulties.
We do not have any choice. Manica is my intended destination. I have walked from Mutare to Manica looking for a job. I hope that I will have some piece jobs along the way and raise the bus fare to Johannesburg, said Tafadzwa Chiweshe from Mutare.
Kenneth Razemba, also from Mutare, said: This is an opportunity I have been waiting for. I dont know where I am going. I am looking for any job in the shops there. I walked all the way from the border up to here. I hope to find a job very soon.
We are walking in groups in order to protect ourselves from robbers. We sleep in the trenches when we are tired. Sometimes we beg for accommodation from villagers in the farms along the highway. We beg for food from people in the farms along the road and eat meal rice (Mutakura) that we got from home, said a tired looking Nicholas Machokoto from Harare.
Manica is about 70 km from Mutare.
Women too have joined the great trek to Mozambique. Some women interviewed said that they were looking for ways to make inroads in the cross border trading.
Mavis Chitoro from Harare said: I have been trying to look for a job but I failed to get one. Now I am going to Manica where there are some business opportunities. I am prepared to become a house girl. I want to raise enough money to start my cross border trading.
Post published in: News