Zimbabwe business lobbies govt to engage SA on trade pact

Local businesses have urged government to pile pressure on the South African government to reverse its decision to terminate a Bilateral Trade Agreement between the two countries.

South Africa last year gave notice of its intention to terminate the trade agreement which had been in place since 1964, opting for the Sadc Trade Protocol on Trade.

For South Africa, the Sadc Trade Protocol on Trade is more comprehensive but for Zimbabwe - which in 2016 imposed a ban on a wide range of South African imports under Statutory Instrument 64 - the deal means Harare stands to lose its preferential access to Pretoria.