Francistown and Bulawayo seek structured trade link

Francistown, Botswana, and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, are looking to build more structured and intentional trade links, moving beyond informal cross-border shopping.

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A lot of people from Bulawayo come here to Francistown to buy goods. We now want to see more people from Francistown coming to Bulawayo to invest and trade in Zimbabwe.

At a hybrid Francistown Business Expo, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business networks from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and other countries gathered. Bulawayo City Councillor Ntando Ndlovu highlighted the current flow of shoppers from Bulawayo to Francistown and expressed a desire to see more investment and trade from Francistown into Zimbabwe. He stressed that the cities should be seen as complementary rather than competitive, with local authorities playing a key role in intensifying and structuring trade.

Ndlovu invited Batswana to explore opportunities in manufacturing, retail, and services in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the need to learn more about value addition and beneficiation. He also noted the advantage cities like Francistown and Bulawayo have in leading regional integration within SADC and Africa.

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We need to grow these two cities. As local authorities we can play a leading role in ensuring that trade between Francistown and Bulawayo becomes more structured, intensified and that we accelerate all the efforts already being done by our people.

Khumbu Malinga from the Zimbabwe Business Network underscored the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cross-border trade. He proposed creating a database of verified, tax-paying sellers in Botswana to facilitate trade. Malinga urged leaders to enact by-laws that support SMEs, enabling smoother cross-border transactions, as these businesses are the daily drivers of goods and services movement.

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We want to see Francistown people come and spot where they can invest and trade. We also need to learn more on value addition and beneficiation. Batswana are very hospitable and I am impressed to be attending this Expo.

The expo itself aimed to foster business connections and showcase opportunities in sectors like agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, and digital services. While individual cross-border shopping has been the traditional driver of trade between Botswana and Zimbabwe, business leaders see significant potential in formalizing these exchanges, developing joint value chains, and establishing both cities as crucial gateways for regional commerce.

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SMEs are the ones moving goods and services daily. If we make it easier for them with proper documentation, information and supportive policies, then trade between Francistown and Bulawayo will grow.