Zimbabwean Crisis Causes Decline In South African Business
South Africa’s border town of Musina has witnessed a fall in business as the number of cross-border traders has dropped drastically due to Zimbabwe’s economic problems.
I am way past my due date to pay my rentals and electricity, it has become difficult to raise enough in a month because customers are not coming like they used to.
Another shop owner attributed the decline in their revenue to the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. She said:
We have been badly affected by the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe as it was our target market here. We used to record good sales here and we never had to scout for customers, but this time it has reached such low levels that we are struggling to keep our businesses going.
The rising inflation has reportedly forced cross-border buses to start charging in United States dollars or rand. This has added to the hindrances cross border traders face. Resultantly, most of them resolved to halt their businesses since the costs now outweigh the profits.
More: News Day