Controversial Zim Law forces South Africans to retrench

The banning of importation of some basic commodities from neighbouring countries to Zimbabwe has left businesses across the border in red as sales have dropped since the inception of the statutory instrument that sparked deadly riots at Beitbridge border in July, 2016.

Mr  Ajay Rana of the Musina Business Chamber says about 90% of their clients aim to take South African goods into Zimbabwe. Rana says some businesses have cut down on staff.

Products that are prohibited into the country are basic necessities such as cooking oil, maize meal and all those things that are used on a daily basis.

“Our trade is depending 90% on Zimbabwe trade and now what is happening is that there has been large reduction of jobs as well,” says Rana.

Many Zimbabwe are now trying to defeat the new trade law by smuggling goods via Limpopo River.