Debunking the informality of Cross-Border Trade (CBT) in Southern Africa.
Debunking the informality of Cross-Border Trade (CBT) in Southern Africa The article seeks to debunk the common usage of the word ‘informal’ in relation to cross-border activities carried out by the native Africans across the borders. the author introduces the need to approach cross-border trade activities from a constructivist view of formality and recognize it as a formal sector. This has been necessitated by continued labels put on this trade despite its positives to the region as a whole. To Devey & Valoidia (2009)when studying cross-border trade formality and informality should be viewed as a continuum and not as exclusive dichotomies The CBT involves the movement of the physical movement of not only goods but also people across borders. Cross-Border Trading has remained an important form of trade in many developing countries. CBT according to studies assisted in the cushioning of the African continent from the global financial crisis as people took advantage o