In a demonstration of his “listening leader” approach, President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with cross-border traders over the weekend, providing an opportunity for them to present a birthday gift and raise issues affecting their sector. The meeting comes shortly after the President celebrated his 83rd birthday last Monday.
The engagement, organised through the national body Crossborders for Economic Development (Crossborders 4ED), reflected a growing commitment by the Second Republic to maintain open communication channels with business stakeholders and improve the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.
According to David Masomere, national chairman of Crossborders 4ED, the traders seized the occasion to express gratitude for the President’s support and his continued listening approach to challenges in the trade sector.
“We discussed two issues. Firstly, we presented a birthday gift to our leader, President Mnangagwa. The gift was a smart podium, which is in line with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030,” Masomere said in an interview. “Secondly, we thanked the President for the support he has been rendering to us and what he has been doing for us through the Special Advisor to the President, Paul Tungwarara.”
Masomere said the presentation of the gift was followed by a candid discussion, during which President Mnangagwa invited the traders to air any concerns they faced in their operations.
“After presenting the gift and expressing our appreciation, the President then asked us if we had issues we wanted to discuss with him,” Masomere noted. He added that traders highlighted two main concerns: the numerous searching points at border posts and the high duty fees required to clear goods.
President Mnangagwa has recently emphasised the importance of facilitating business operations across ministries, departments, and agencies to strengthen economic growth. The traders’ concerns align with this broader directive.
“One of the issues we raised was the numerous searching points when crossing borders. From Beitbridge to Harare, we pass through as many as ten checkpoints, which affects efficiency and operational costs,” Masomere explained. “We appealed to the President to see if something could be done to streamline operations. We support doing business the right way and are strongly against smuggling.”
Mnangagwa in Dialogue With Cross-Border Trading Community
In addition to the challenges posed by multiple checkpoints, traders drew attention to the high duty fees levied at border points. Masomere stressed that reducing these fees would enhance competitiveness and ease the financial burden on cross-border operators.
“The President asked us to prepare a document outlining all our concerns so that he can review them and determine how best we can be assisted,” Masomere said. “This gesture made us very happy because it shows that he genuinely cares about the sector and is committed to supporting legitimate business operations.”
The meeting also underscored the traders’ commitment to lawful practices. Masomere highlighted that cross-border traders are opposed to smuggling and corrupt activities and fully support government efforts to curb graft along the country’s borders.
In recent years, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has intensified measures to improve revenue collection while enhancing the ease of doing business. The agency has embraced technology-driven solutions that bolster security, streamline customs procedures, and reduce opportunities for corruption.
One notable development has been the adoption of drone technology to enhance surveillance along Zimbabwe’s borders with neighbouring countries. The drones have significantly improved vigilance, helping to monitor goods movement and deter illegal activities. Such innovations are seen as critical in supporting cross-border trade while maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
President Mnangagwa’s interaction with the traders reflects a broader vision to integrate stakeholder feedback into policymaking. By directly engaging with those affected by trade regulations, the government seeks to identify bottlenecks, streamline operations, and ensure that Zimbabwe’s economic reforms are inclusive and responsive to the needs of businesses.
The smart podium presented by the traders symbolises not just a token of appreciation but also alignment with the Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to modernise governance and foster a more efficient, technologically enabled public service environment.
Through dialogues such as this, the Second Republic continues to reinforce its approach of open engagement, transparency, and collaboration with private sector actors, particularly those operating in critical areas such as cross-border trade. These initiatives are expected to contribute to Zimbabwe’s broader economic goals of enhanced productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
For cross-border traders, the meeting has reaffirmed that the government is listening and willing to take steps that reduce unnecessary operational challenges while promoting legal and ethical trade practices. It remains to be seen how the recommendations will be implemented, but the dialogue signals a positive step toward closer cooperation between the government and business stakeholders.
Source- Heraldonline
