Informal Entrepreneurship and Cross-Border Trade Between Zimbabwe and South Africa

Zimbabwe Has Witnessed The Rapid Expansion Of Informal Cross-border Trading (icbt) With Neighbouring Countries Over The Past Two Decades. Beginning In The Mid-1990s When The Country Embarked On Its Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (esap), A Large Number Of People Were Forced Into Informal Employment Through Worsening Economic Conditions And The Decline In Formal Sector Jobs. The Countrys Post-2000 Economic Col-lapse Resulted In The Closure Of Many Industries And Created Market Opportunities For The Further Expansion Of Icbt. This Report, Part Of Samps Growing Informal Cities Series, Sought To Provide A Current Picture Of Icbt In Zimbabwe By Interviewing A Sample Of 514 Harare-based Informal Entrepreneurs Involved In Cross-border Trading With South Africa.