Harare – Owing to the Coronavirus-induced lockdown, the country’s informal sector has been the hardest hence the calls for it to adopt e-commerce have grown louder.
In an interview with Business Mail , Alternative Business Alliance founder and director Mr Israel Mabhoo said there is the need for the SMEs sector to utilise the opportunities presented by technology to continue to be viable as lockdown restrictions persist.
“As an association which deals with the SMEs who are mainly informal, we have realised that there is now the inherent need for our members to adopt technologies in the trade so that they can’t continue to moan about the Covid-19 restrictions,” he said .
Addressing a group of female informal cross border traders recently at a meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau, Zimbabwe Gender Commission(ZGC) commissioner Dr Nyepudzai Mercy Nyangulu urged the women to make use of e-commerce to deal with the challenges they are facing in their trade.
“I have heard your reports on sexual harassment at the hands of border control authorities but I am telling you that these challenges can be avoided if you adopt e-commerce ,” she urged.
“What is just required of you is to organise yourselves, contact your suppliers and arrange with your transporters so that your goods can be delivered to you smoothly, ”added the ZGC commissioner.
Her remarks come at a time when ZIMRA has already started automating the issuance of Customs Clearance Certificates (CCCs) for all imported motor vehicles.
According to ZIMRA, the new system applies to both new and second-hand motor vehicles.
Business Mail caught up with a car dealer, Tatenda Chisamba from Kadoma who praised the new system by ZIMRA saying it has made life easier for him and his peers in the trade.
“I am very much happy that ZIMRA has heeded to our calls for the use of technology in clearing imported cars it will serve us from the long winding queues we were now accustomed to at the borders,” Chisamba said.
Tariro Chimhanda – Business Mail
