Passport Please: The cross-border traders association in Zambia

Abstract:
This book chapter examines The Cross-Border Traders Association (CBTA) in Zambia, focusing on the networks of influence that the association has with a range of local, national, and international actors. The CBTA membership comprises of informal traders of many different commodities from across the region. It interacts with a range of influential regional bodies such as the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as local and national governments. CBTA functions on three levels, firstly by bringing together cross-border traders and providing them with a platform for communicating with one voice. Secondly, it lobbies for its members on issues relating to tariffs and customs duties as well as other costs relating to cross-border travel. Thirdly, it seeks to educate its members on issues concerning their financial and physical wellbeing. It also provides a platform on which regional bodies, government agencies, and private sector actors can interact with cross border traders.