Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe
The collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy in the 2000s resulted in the country relying largely on food imports from other countries, especially from South Africa. Informal cross-border traders (ICBTs) have become crucial players in the country’s food economy, playing an important role in the importation o...
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| Language: | English |
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University of the Western Cape
2025-01-01
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| Series: | African Human Mobility Review |
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| Online Access: | http://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/2434 |
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| author | Abel Chikanda |
| author_facet | Abel Chikanda |
| author_sort | Abel Chikanda |
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The collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy in the 2000s resulted in the country relying largely on food imports from other countries, especially from South Africa. Informal cross-border traders (ICBTs) have become crucial players in the country’s food economy, playing an important role in the importation of food as well as its retail across the country. Cross-border trading also provides employment opportunities to a large number of people in the country, especially women, in an environment of depressed economic opportunities. The paper relies on data from a variety of sources, including surveys by the Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) as well as document analysis to demonstrate the role played by ICBTs in the country’s food economy. It also assesses how ICBTs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and examines their strategies employed to continue their business activities during the time of mobility restrictions. More importantly, it demonstrates how the lack of understanding of the contribution of ICBTs to employment generation and urban food security has led to the adoption of policies and practices that do not accommodate informal food trading in the country’s urban landscape. The paper also discusses how informal cross-border trading (ICBT) and informal food trading in Zimbabwe have changed in the post-COVID-19 period and sets a research agenda on understanding the role of ICBT in the economies of countries in the Global South.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-455666bc0f52446aa5e9ac91ec370273 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2411-6955 2410-7972 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Human Mobility Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-455666bc0f52446aa5e9ac91ec3702732025-01-20T22:25:41ZengUniversity of the Western CapeAfrican Human Mobility Review2411-69552410-79722025-01-0110310.14426/ahmr.v10i3.2434Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in ZimbabweAbel Chikanda0School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada The collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy in the 2000s resulted in the country relying largely on food imports from other countries, especially from South Africa. Informal cross-border traders (ICBTs) have become crucial players in the country’s food economy, playing an important role in the importation of food as well as its retail across the country. Cross-border trading also provides employment opportunities to a large number of people in the country, especially women, in an environment of depressed economic opportunities. The paper relies on data from a variety of sources, including surveys by the Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) as well as document analysis to demonstrate the role played by ICBTs in the country’s food economy. It also assesses how ICBTs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and examines their strategies employed to continue their business activities during the time of mobility restrictions. More importantly, it demonstrates how the lack of understanding of the contribution of ICBTs to employment generation and urban food security has led to the adoption of policies and practices that do not accommodate informal food trading in the country’s urban landscape. The paper also discusses how informal cross-border trading (ICBT) and informal food trading in Zimbabwe have changed in the post-COVID-19 period and sets a research agenda on understanding the role of ICBT in the economies of countries in the Global South. http://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/2434food trade, informal economy, cross-border traders, COVID-19, digital marketing, Zimbabwe |
| spellingShingle | Abel Chikanda Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe African Human Mobility Review food trade, informal economy, cross-border traders, COVID-19, digital marketing, Zimbabwe |
| title | Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Informal Cross-Border Traders and Food Trade during the Global Pandemic in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | informal cross border traders and food trade during the global pandemic in zimbabwe |
| topic | food trade, informal economy, cross-border traders, COVID-19, digital marketing, Zimbabwe |
| url | http://www.epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/2434 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abelchikanda informalcrossbordertradersandfoodtradeduringtheglobalpandemicinzimbabwe |