Abstract
This chapter deploys a qualitative study of informal cross-border traders (ICBTs) at the Ramokgwebana border post between Botswana and Zimbabwe (Francistown–Plumtree–Bulawayo interface ) and the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe (Johannesburg–Messina–Beitbridge interface ), to explore their activities and operations. It was established that ICBTs travel between these countries for the purposes of buying and selling different types of goods . Cross-border economic activities between Francistown and Plumtree and Bulawayo, and between Johannesburg and Messina and Beitbridge on the Zimbabwean side seem to be integrated economically . Consequently, the chapter argues that ICBTs constitute an important and innovative bottom-up initiative in the SADC regional integration debate. On this basis, policies that could enhance the activities of the ICBTs are advocated, so they are seen as an integral part of the regional integration project in the SADC .
References
African Union. 2012. Draft Strategic Framework for the Implementation of the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-Africa Trade and for Establishing the Continental Free Trade Area. www.au.int/…/14510-wd-10.2_draft_strategic_framework_for_the_implementation. Accessed 21 Jan 2017.
Afrika, J.-G., and G. Ajumbo. 2012. Informal Cross-Border Trade in Africa: Implications and Policy Recommendations. Africa Economic Brief: Africa Development Bank.
Balassa, B. 1961. The Theory of Economic Integration. Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin.
Bolaños, A.B. 2016. A Step Further in the Theory of Regional Integration: A Look at the Unasur’s Integration Strategy. Working paper GATE 2016–2017. 2016. https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01315692/document. Accessed 16 Jan 2017.
Creswell, J.H. 2009. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches. Singapore: Sage.
Egbuna, O. 2016. Understanding Zim’s Look East Policy. http://www.herald.co.zw/understanding-zims-look-east-policy/. Accessed 26 Jan 2017.
Entrekin, J.N., and J.H. Tepple. 2006. Humanism and Democratic Place Making. In Approaches to Human Geography, ed. S. Aitken, and G. Valentine, 30–41. London: Sage Publications.
Makombe, P.F. 2011. Informal Cross-Border Trade and SADC: The Search for Greater Recognition. Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa. www.trademarksa.org/…/informal-cross-border-trade-and-sadc-search-gr. Accessed 28 May 2015.
Masemola, H. 2005. An analysis and appraisal of restructuring in SADCC/SADC since 1990. Unpublished MA thesis. University of South Africa. http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/2507/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 18 Jan 2017.
Moyo, I. 2016. Zimbabwe’s Import Ban Runs Counter to Regional Economic Integration. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/zimbabwes-import-ban-runs-counter-to-regional-economic-integration-63425. Accessed 23 Dec 2016.
Nshimbi, C.C., and Fioramonti, L. 2013. A Region without Borders? Policy Frameworks for Regional Labour Migration Towards South Africa. African Centre for Migration and Society: University of the Witwatersrand.
Oloruntoba, S., and Nshimbi, C.C. 2017. If Africa Is Serious About a Free Trade Area It Needs to Act Quickly, and Differently. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/if-africa-is-serious-about-a-free-trade-area-it-needs-to-act-quickly-and-differently-70234. Accessed 26 Jan 2017.
Overtoom, W. 2014. Mahathir’s ‘Look East’ Policy: Changing the Values of the Malays. MA thesis. https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/29521/ThesisFinalWB.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 25 Jan 2016.
Peberdy, S. 2002. Hurdles to Trade? South Africa’s Immigration Policy and Informal Sector Cross-Border Traders in a SADC. Paper presented at SAMP/LHR/HSRC Workshop on Regional Integration, Poverty and South Africa’s Proposed Migration Policy, Pretoria, 23 April 2002.
Peberdy, S. 2013. Social Protection for Informal Cross-Border Traders. www.saspen.org/…/Peberdy_PPT_FES-SASPEN-INT-CONF_Social-Prot. Accessed 28 May 2015.
Peters-Berries, C. 2010. Regional Integration in Southern Africa—A Guidebook. Bonn: INWENT.
Republic of Zimbabwe. 1996. Exchange Control (General) Order, 1996 S.I. 110 of 1996. Harare: Government Printers.
Republic of Zimbabwe. 2016. Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 [S.I. 64 of 2016] (Control of Goods [Open General Import Licence, No 2], [Amendment], Notice 2016, [No .8]). Harare: Government Printers.
SME, 2006. Cross-Border African Shoppers and Traders in South Africa: Findings from an SBP Survey. SME Alert. http://sbp.org.za/uploads/media/SME_Alert_Cross_Border_Shopping_final_8-12-06.pdf. Accessed 28 May 2015).
Soprano, C. 2014. A Step Toward Formalization: The Charter for Cross-Border Traders. http://blogs.worldbank.org/trade/step-toward-formalization-charter-cross-border-traders. Accessed 28 May 2015.
Southern African Development Community (SADC). 1992. SADC Declaration and Treaty 1992. http://www.sadc.int/documents-publications/show/865. Accessed 5 July 2014.
Southern African Development Community (SADC). 2012b. SADC Protocol on Trade and Services. http://www.sadc.int/documents-publications/protocols/. Accessed 23 Dec 2016.
Southern Africa Trust. 2013. Regional Cross-Border Trade Stakeholder Dialogue. 23–24 April 2013, Maputo, Mozambique. http://www.southernafricatrust.org/docs/regional_cross_border_trade_stakeholder_dialogue_20130716.pdf:27. Accessed 23 Dec 2016.
Teddlie, C., and A. Tashakkori. 2009. Foundations of Mixed Methods Research: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches in the Social and Behavioural Sciences. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage Publications.
Umnotho Wamazwe. 2008. Workshop Report: Informal Cross-Border Trade in SADC. Consultation and Planning Workshop, 4–5 November 2008, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Moyo, I. (2017). Zimbabwean Cross-Border Traders in Botswana and South Africa: Perspectives on SADC Regional Integration. In: Nshimbi, C., Moyo, I. (eds) Migration, Cross-Border Trade and Development in Africa. Palgrave Studies of Sustainable Business in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55399-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55399-3_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55398-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55399-3
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)