Zim police violence worries Botswana NGOs

The surge in protests across different parts of Zimbabwe have arisen because of increasing economic hardships, including their aggravation by a recent ban on a wide range of imports , which range from coffee creamers and body cream to beds and fertiliser. The import ban not only threatens the livelihood of millions of Zimbabweans, but also militates against the spirit of free trade in our SADC region.

More than 80% of Zimbabweans are unemployed, according to the World Bank, although the government puts the figure at 11%. With unemployment in Zimbabwe so high, many rely on cross-border trading to survive. Killer Zivhu, head of the Zimbabwe Cross-Border Traders Association has indicated that more than three million Zimbabweans make a living buying goods in the region, particularly from neighbouring South Africa, and selling them in Zimbabwe.