Chinese traders make a killing as Zims invade shops

RUSSO LUMA
Correspondent | Friday July 9, 2010 00:00

Cashing in on the high demand for blankets, electronics and other goods, these immigrants have turned a chain of Chinese shops on Haskins Street into their shopping home. It is a matter of Chinese immigrant shop-owners attracting Zimbabwean immigrant-shoppers. The mall along this street, which some call 'Bulawayo', is not a modern boulevard and the buildings and pavement are clearly beaten with age. But it seems much more attractive to immigrants than locals.

As one meanders his way along these shops, one has to be vigilant and focus on where they are going, or risk colliding with this mass of people going in the opposite direction. Shona and Ndebele are the languages mostly spoken here. There is a bit of Setswana here and there. The movement is a real bustle. Most people would be carrying something. Men and women's necks look tense under the heavy loads on their heads.

Television sets, bundled up blankets, microwaves and radio sets make up most of the goods that draw these shoppers to Francistown. This frenzied buying spree has also led to the emergence of unlicensed haulage businesses. The parking lots along this street are always crowded with Toyota Dyna trucks and even vans. Owners of these vehicles would be standing there waiting for customers and calling out as they pass by. Some ignore them and others don't. 'Mo yendai mmai. Boisa kono.' 'Where are you going mam? bring your luggage here.' These are some of the words you would hear from able-bodied young men looking for customers so they can transport their goods to Zimbabwe. 

'We decide on how we should be paid looking at the amount of goods a customer has. I only drop them at the Ramokgwebana border. Zimbabwean truck owners are the ones who take them into Zimbabwe. It could be a more worthwhile business, but there are so many of us,' said one Motswana Dyna truck driver, Kwaedza Mabongo.

Next to him is a pile of blankets and electronic equipment. Tired-looking Zimbabwean men and women with jerseys and jackets tied around their waists are busy loading the baggage onto the truck. Somebody with a hard cover book is meanwhile busy writing down the names and addresses of customers and their luggage.

'It's winter and there is a shortage of blankets in Zimbabwe. We come to buy blankets and other items in bulk to go and sell in flea markets back home. The items sell fast, that's why we come here so often,' says Rudzai Mafara, who is squatting next to his goods.  'It's interesting to see vendors sitting in front of shops selling. This is not allowed in Zimbabwe and the police would arrest you,' he continues. Yes, in front of Broadline Outfitters, Sunrise Francistown, Kater, Crazy Max, Skaters, Calinisthetic, Therisanyo Technology, Good Luck shops and many others in the mall, there are many vendors selling sweets, bananas, cigarettes, and clothes. Cobblers are also tucked in front of these shops doing what they know best - mending shoes.

'Of course, they buy, though not at a high rate like we want. One can say the shortage of blankets, TV sets and others in Zimbabwe is a blessing to some of us,' one of the vendors, Tshoganetso George, says.

Looking at the old pavement in front of these shops, there are mountains of goods.  Standing or sitting on benches are Zimbabwean immigrants enjoying a loaf of bread with soft drinks, soup with fat cakes, pap with beef or chicken stew and other snacks.  Some are standing there, casually chatting. Looking at these people one can marvel at their tenacity. The economic doldrums in Zimbabwe over the years has not destroyed their spirit of self-reliance. They kept it up and they are fending for themselves by pouncing on every opportunity at their disposal; that is why seeing that there was a shortage of certain goods in Zimbabwe they had to go to neighbouring countries like Botswana to buy the goods for sale back in their country.

Getting into the Chinese shops, they are fully stocked with items mentioned above. Clothes are also in abundance. The blankets piled up there are no longer nicely packed because a flood of customers has been pulling out their choices and still are. Young Batswana shop assistants are standing closely to help customers. Shop owners operating the till do not want to talk about sales in their shops. One of them just gestures that he has got nothing to say.

May be it is because they have limitations when it comes to speaking English. 'The Chinese are making a lot of money, but there is nothing for us. We really can't do anything with the wages we get,' says one of the shop assistants who preferred anonymity.

She looked resigned to her fate. 'I finished Form Five last year, and I'm still struggling to find a place at college to do some course, but it's not easy because I didn't do that well in the exam,' she said.