PICS: Zimbabwe's economic crisis leads to cross-border cargo shuttles from South Africa

Johannesburg – Piles of oil, tires,
cookies, microwaves and toilet paper filled a small, wet Johannesburg
basement – all destined for Zimbabwe.

Items are loaded onto trailers attached to
minibuses that make the 550 km north of the border.

Within 48 hours, each shipment is delivered to
addresses in Zimbabwe after being "sent by mail" to the border,
sometimes illicitly.

As the economic situation in Zimbabwe has considerably
deteriorated, pushing inflation above 50%, shortage of basic necessities
have become widespread.

"When the situation is bad on this side, things
are better for us, "said Charles, one of the delivery men who makes a
Round trip weekly with trailers loaded precariously.

It manages the orders of individuals and small
companies via WhatsApp before sending articles north.

Charles (not his real name) and hundreds like him
across South Africa offer a unique "personal shopper" from Zimbabwe
a service.

Known in the local language ndebele as "malayitsha (carriers) "they
mainly fly under the radar and not declare their goods to Zimbabwean
customs.

"We sell and transport everything," added
Charles, who delivers in the western region of Bulawayo. Other than AFP also met
deliver to the capital Harare.

"People are very
despair & # 39;

Food, alcohol, sanitary products, furniture,
electrical appliances, coffins and even salt to lick for livestock through
the border every day.

Gas and petrol, in high demand since prices doubled
january, are also a staple of malayitshas despite the risk of
explosions.

"It's dangerous, as long as they're ready to
pay, I wear. If I say "I do not wear that", my kids will go on a vacuum
stomach, "said Charles, who has two children in Zimbabwe, but who spends a lot
of his time in South Africa where he also has two children.

Although Charles is ready to risk a flammable cargo,
he will not take perishable goods.

But his Malayitsha companion, Precious, does and she
told AFP that "the craziest thing I had to buy was five big pizzas".

"We bought them on a Saturday, they were
delivered on Sunday. People are very desperate, "she said.

Impromptu warehouses were born in
The Hillbrow district of Johannesburg, where sidewalks serve as loading bays.

Yvonne, a Zimbabwean secretary in South Africa,
arrived with a huge bag filled with items for his parents and sister
back home – a monthly ritual.

Yvonne trusts couriers and pays with a
electronic transfer or in cash.

Cheaper than to buy
locally

His last delivery included toothpaste and
sanitary napkins, as well as candles and matches.

"I can sleep peacefully knowing that they have what
they need, "said the young woman.

Prices are skyrocketing in Zimbabwe and even with
postage, a malayitsha is often cheaper than buying locally.

Charles charges R5 for 20 bags of chips, R150 for
20 liters of gasoline and 5,000 rand for a refrigerator.

"The fridge … was also bought in South Africa
because if I had to buy it here, the amount would be enough to buy three, "
said Emily Maphosa, a resident of Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo.

The 78-year-old grandmother had just received
cooking oil, a bag of rice and frozen chickens.

"In South Africa with the R500, it's better – I
I can buy and shop for almost a month, she said.

"In this country, R500 can only get a few
articles that will not last a week, "she added while cooking kale.

Nokuthaba Tshuma, a resident of Bulawayo, a
Single mother of 38, also received a delivery.

"With around R250, I managed to buy the 36 (exercise)
necessary books for my son, "she said, adding that, locally, they would have
cost more.

"I can even buy a bag of potatoes for them
pack in their lunch box, "she said.

& # 39; We feel we do
well & # 39;

To satisfy customers like Tshuma, malayitshas
must avoid attracting attention.

Many drive the night avoiding Zimbabwean police
roadblocks, while in South Africa, they bribe officers to ignore surcharges.
trailers, sometimes stacked four meters high.

Customs officers are bribed to ignore articles that
should be declared.

Charles spends between 1,500 and 2,000 rand for
bribes "on every trip.

"Officers in Zimbabwe are not paid enough, so
it's a way for them to make a better living, "said another deliveryman,
Valentine Kembo.

Kembo and his partner, who officially launched
Cleeka, a company registered in South Africa, also buys in bulk to deliver
in Zimbabwe.

But their shipments are neatly packaged in
identical boxes for a high-end clientele including an old
minister, according to Kembo.

While the economy of Zimbabwe collapsed in the past
year, their business has grown by 30%, he said, and goes beyond
to satisfy the customers.

"A pharmacy would not give us 10 boxes of
same medicine. So we had to go to 10 pharmacies, "said Kembo.

"We delivered an injection at a critical moment
to someone with diabetes. We feel that we are doing well. "