Abstract
Socio-economic challenges that have bedevilled post-independent Zimbabwe have
resulted in many women embracing
Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) on a
full-time basis. While many ethnic Shona
women engaged in ICBT as early as the
1980s and 1990s, Ndau women remained
aloof and began to actively participate in
the trade mainly after 2000, prompting a
study into factors leading to this sudden
change in socio-cultural and
entrepreneurial behavior. The study used a
survey research design where data were
collected through questionnaires,
interviews and observation from women
cross-border traders, men and traditional
leaders from Chipinge South. The study
revealed that social and economic
hardships compelled Ndau women to move
out of the cocoons and actively participate
in ICBT. At the same time, men reluctantly
loosened their patriarchy-inspired grip as
they now saw women as partners in
economic life rather than as mere flowers in
a garden. The study recommended the
removal of remaining socio-cultural and
economic fetters on Ndau women, men’s
active support for women cross-border traders and the crafting of laws that
promote ICBT in general and women crossborder trade in particular.
SAMSON MUTSAGONDO, EDITH KARIMANZIRA, JENNIPHER MAKANGA. (2016) NDAU WOMEN, INFORMAL CROSS-BORDER TRADE AND THE CHANGING SOCIO- ECONOMIC DISPENSATION IN ZIMBABWE, Paradigms , Vol 10, Issue 2 .
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