Cross boarder transporters, popularly known as oMalayitsha, have called on government to assist them with special permits which will ensure smooth passage of their goods into the country to enable them to transport essentials to vulnerable families in the country on time.
The Malayitsha trade has been around for over two decades servicing the Matebelaland and Zimbabwean community at large.
For many years they have been a vital cog in ensuring that goods from neighbouring countries especially South Africa and Botswana reach intended families who rely on their diaspora relatives for survival.
Many families in Matabeleland and Zimbabwe as a whole have long relied on supplementary essentials sent by their relatives who reside in neighboring countries and have known no other way of getting their goods into the country other than oMalayitsha.
As important as this service has been, it has been threatened by the rise of the Covid-19 which has forced countries to impose strict restrictions on their borders.
The trade is facing an existential threat and Omalayitsha have tried to be innovative and resorted to using haulage trucks to get their goods into the country.
However, these efforts have hit a snag as their trucks spend even up to a fortnight at Beitbridge border post before being cleared to proceed and they have sent an SOS to responsible authorities.
George Phiri, who has been uMalayitsha since the 90’s, said the delays are posing a threat to their business as sometimes they carry perishable products which end up going bad before reaching their intended destinations which results in huge losses.
He called on Government to assist them as they offer an essential services to several vulnerable families in Zimbabwe including the elderly and the poor.
“Our work is very important to several families in Zimbabwe. We provide a service to vulnerable communities who rely on us to bring their goods from their breadwinners in South Africa and Botswana.We are appealing to government to assist us get permits that will allow us to process our goods swiftly,” said Mr Phiri.
He added that the setback is threatening several jobs created by the transporters saying his own employs over 50 people and their livelihoods and those of their families are at risk if no long lasting solution is provided soon.
Another Malayitsha, Orishias Moyo said they risk being pushed out of business for good by big transport companies which have come into the business and have started advertising their services.
He said this creates an unfair competing ground for them as they do not have the financial muscle to deal with costs that come with delays at the border, pleading with authorities to be more lenient.
He added that as transporters they are ready for any necessary searches and requirements which will guard against any criminals who might want to take advantage of their proposed special “Big permits.
“Big companies like bus companies have already started advertising their services which were previously offered by us. If the situation remains like this we are likely to be squeezed out of business.”
“What we are saying is we are ready to comply with any searches that Zimra might propose because this will help us expose criminals who might want to take advantage.
The Tenacity Post also caught up with families that have been using omalayitsha’s services and they said the glitch is being felt in their homes as they are now unable to receive goods from breadwinners.
67-year-old Mrs Nonhlanhla Mpofu from Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb said she has been dependent on omalayitsha for over 12 years adding that their being out of business has affected her immensely.
“ I have had my good brought to me by them since 2008 . I do not work and my son who works in south Africa has been taking care of me through omalayitsha. Sending groceries and all essential to me every two weeks.”
She said Omalayitsha must be allowed to travel because many families are dependent on them to bring their goods for survival.
Omalayitsha have always been the preferred choice as many people find their services affordable compared to other courier service providers.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Head of Corporate Communications Mr Francis Chimanda said the organisation does not offer special permits for transportation of goods by Omalayitsha.
He said for the process of clearance of goods to be quick the goods that omalayitsha carry must be declared and they must submit manifest beforehand as required by law.
“They are required by law to submit manifests containing goods, quantities and the names of the individual importers 3 hours before arrival at the border. The manifests must be accompanied by a schedule showing individual names of importers, their goods, quantities and values for duties to be calculated and paid before their arrival. They should make use of agents to do the clearance for them. The goods must be properly declared for the process to be speeded up,”
