Beitbridge closure: Cross-border traders in a scramble for livelihoods
JOHANNESBURG - The closure of the Beitbridge border post for general entry and departure will not have much of an impact on the Zimbabwean economy as the transportation of fuel, cargo and goods will still be allowed, the head of a local business body said on Tuesday.
This, however, is not the case for small businesses operating in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, who will likely bear the brunt as the new arrangements leave crossborder traders scrambling to work around a lack of flexibility.
Late on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would close 20 land border posts until 15 February to curb the spread of
Covid-19.
South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, with the southern African country exporting goods worth US$1.57 billion to South Africa for the 11 months to November 2020.
In turn, Zimbabwe, which is the gateway to other regional countries up north, imported goods worth US$2.2 billion from South Africa, according to data released by the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa said congestion at border posts had exposed many people to Covid-19 infections as they waited to be processed.
Beitbridge is one of the busiest ports of entry and its closure could hurt businesses, especially in border towns like Musina in South Africa and
Beitbridge in Zimbabwe.
But Beitbridge Business Association chairman Nkululeko Milidi said the impact would be minimal as the commercial side would be allowed to continue operating.
Some people would still be allowed to enter or depart the country for certain reasons, including the transportation of fuel, cargo and goods, according to Ramaphosa.
Milidi said the business community had trucks that were allowed to buy groceries across the border.
“In any case, the Zimbabwean side had already stopped general departures to South Africa, so this makes sense, it is for our safety. We, however, still have trucks that bring in commercial cargo.”–