Yesterday, Thursday the 11th of June 2026, the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), in partnership with Amnesty International Zimbabwe, convened a capacity-strengthening dialogue in Mutare under the Informal Cross-Border Trade Campaign.
The dialogue brought together informal cross-border traders, trader representatives, community advocates, and campaign champions to strengthen understanding of the rights and protections available to women traders under international and regional frameworks. Through participatory and rights-based learning approaches, participants reflected on their lived experiences and explored practical ways to advance and protect their rights.
Key discussions focused on the human rights challenges faced by women informal cross-border traders, including bribery, theft, border harassment, delays, corruption, lack of accountability, and arbitrary confiscation of goods. Participants also examined the root causes of these challenges and identified priority issues for advocacy and policy engagement.
The session further highlighted the importance of documenting human rights violations and using evidence-based advocacy to influence policy reforms and improve protection mechanisms for traders.
The Informal Cross-Border Trade Campaign is informed by Amnesty International research conducted between 2022 and 2023, which revealed that women engaged in cross-border trade often face economic exploitation, gender-based discrimination, and inadequate legal protection, undermining their livelihoods and economic security.
Together, we continue to advocate for a trading environment that respects human rights, promotes gender equality, and supports the economic empowerment of women traders.
📖 Read the full report here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr03/7792/2024/en/
