In discussions with traders and government agencies a contributory factor to a sluggish market appears to be the much lower demand for Cambodian rice from cross border traders in Thailand and Vietnam, which in turn possibly reflects lower demand and the declining trend in international rice export prices.
As I left the building, I had the distinct impression that Abu Ibrahim, a veteran cross-border trader, was hinting strongly that he wanted to make a deal — with whom he left intentionally vague — and perhaps receive something in exchange for his guests.
It has my orders for goods that I am supposed to go and buy for my clients in Botswana, as well as a list of people who have paid and also those who haven't, plus those goods that are in short supply," Amai Towe, a Harare-based cross-border trader, told IPS with a satisfied tone.
Over the past year, small cross-border traders have been slowly shut out by higher tariffs and new bureaucratic requirements, presented as measures to reduce smuggling and stop poor-quality imports from China.
Multinational companies with national sales structures in the 15-member European Union may be encouraged by today's ruling to refuse to sell to cross-border traders who make a living from the price differentials.
Arang Keshavarzian, professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at New York University, writes: "Iran's free trade zones in the southern Gulf currently rest on a tacit alliance between state officials, members of the military, and cross-border traders, a coalition that is not conducive to economic growth, egalitarian re-distribution of resources, or democratisation".
Women doing business in ways that support families include the myriad cross-border traders found throughout sub-Saharan Africa; women selling used clothes and tin kitchenware; hair stylists; and owners of fashion salons, small food stores and even watering holes (catering almost exclusively to men).
The Zimbabwe Cross-Border Traders Association (ZCBTA) represents the interests of approximately 15,000 registered traders.
The cross-border traders now have an association through which they lobby authorities to safeguard their interests.
"We have shortages at times but the cross-border traders have helped us a lot with supplies.
The 43-year-old is just one of the thousands of Zimbabwe's enterprising cross-border traders who travel across the country's borders into neighbouring countries, bringing in much-needed foodstuffs.
