Ethical Dilemma for Zimbabwean Christian Women Engaged in Cross-Border Trading

Abstract

Appraising the women of Zimbabwe would be an incomplete story if we were to leave out their immense economic contribution through cross-border trading, particularly in light of their positive contribution to the country’s economic growth. However, as noted in this chapter, for most Christian women traders, such contributions often come at a high price. The main objective of this chapter is to investigate the ethical dilemmas encountered by many Christian Zimbabwean women who are engaged in cross-border trading. There have been multiple pieces of literature on Zimbabwean female traders crossing the border to do business in several countries around the globe, in countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Dubai, and China. Most of these sources have revealed that cross-border trading is a source of livelihood for many, especially women in Zimbabwe, and they also acknowledge how it has improved the country’s economy. These sources also describe cross-border trading as informal employment, which began soon after independence. There are three major reasons for this, namely: (1) the dual and the enclave nature of the economy, which Zimbabwe inherited immediately after the war of independence, (2) rural-to-urban migration restrictions imposed upon the black population before independence, and (3) the manipulation of the status of women by the then Rhodesian government. The study mainly uses qualitative data collection methods. Data were collected through purposive sampling, snowballing, informant interviews, and questionnaires. The data analysis was conducted through the dialectical method employing elements of utilitarian and deontological ethics. The study established that female cross-border traders face numerous challenges, including harassment, which can be sexual harassment or harassment due to xenophobia, anxiety, accommodation problems, stigmatization, bribery, and fear among other psychological challenges. In reflecting upon the different responses to navigate through these hurdles, the study noted that some of the methods adopted by women cross-border traders put them in an ethical dilemma, especially when looked at through Christian moral lenses. The study recommends that intervention strategies must be put in place to re-educate border officials as well as any other personnel who deal with female cross-borders in an endeavor to improve relations with them and enhance their economic ventures.