Kezi residents revert to barter trade

By Mediate Mpofu

Since the lockdown came into effect, life has become increasingly unbearable for kezi villagers.

In mitigation, a considerable section of the Community has resuscitated the old system of barter trade whereby goods are exchanged for other goods. This development has been necessitated by lack of cash among the villagers.
Among the self employed  informal traders who are no longer allowed to trade, cash or any kind of income for the matter, has been hard to come by. There is a general shortage of cash in the area which is affecting most villagers. As a consequence, those with goods to sell are struggling to get customers with cash to buy.

With the situation so dire, an understanding has been struck between buyers and sellers to engage in barter trade in lieu of offering  credit or waiting for a lockdown moratorium.

“I am really happy that most people in Kezi are now accepting barter exchange as a form of trade. We would have been stranded if it wasn’t for barter exchange because we have no money now because of the lockdown regulations under which we cannot work”, said Saziso Ncube of Maqhina village who is a vendor.

Mr Vincent Ndlovu councillor for Manyane ward 13 said barter has become the trade of choice in the area though it has it’s own challenges pertaining to measurement of value.

“I love barter trade ,but i dislike it when goods of different value are exchanged and one feels cheated. Overally, I think it has made life a bit easier in spite of the lockdown hardships”

Adore Dzipe of Malindi village who is into farming said,”I have exchanged mopane caterpilers and a goat for food,clothes,fertiliser and farming seeds. I really appreciate the barter system of trade though it is old fashioned, we really don’t have much of a choice in these parts”.

Farmers often exchange their farm produce for other goods and services. Domestic animals can be traded for  services such as building in the area.