On 24–25 November 2025, three Regional Economic Communities (RECs) namely the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA, East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) under the Tripartite arrangement convened a consultative meeting with Informal Cross-Border Traders (ICBTs) on the Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime (TSTR) Framework in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The consultative meeting drew participants from youth and women traders, cross-border trader associations (CBTAs), Civil Society Organisations, and representatives from COMESA, EAC, and SADC. The TSTR is rooted in the shared commitment of COMESA, EAC, and SADC to ensure that small-scale traders, who make up a significant portion of cross-border commerce, are not left behind
At the end of the two-day consultative meeting, women and youth engaged in informal cross-border trade who participated in the meeting welcomed the STR Framework, noting that they stand to have access to an expanded market once the Framework is validated, approved and rolled out in the Tripartite area.
Ms. Inota Cheta, a Zambian young entrepreneur who founded the SHE Entrepreneur, an organisation that supports women in agri-business and other businesses, described the consultative meeting as insightful and an important learning platform for how the TSTR Framework will benefit young cross border traders across the tripartite area.
On his part, Mr. Augustine Tawanda, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Cross border Traders Association and Secretary General of the Southern Africa Cross border Traders Association highlighted that the TSTR Framework will broaden the market for cross borders thereby creating more benefits for traders within the Tripartite area.
Ms. Mary Malunga, Chairperson of the Women in Informal Cross border Traders Association in Malawi highlighted that the TSTR Framework will assist to address some of the challenges that women cross border traders face such as Gender-Based Violence and harassment which will be addressed through collaborative work Cross border Traders Associations to work with border officials to address the challenges that cross border women face.
The Executive Director of the East African Women in Business Platform Executive Director of the East African Women in Business Platform, Ms. Janice Kimaro, commended COMESA, EAC and SADC for the coming up with the STR Framework and for providing an opportunity for cross border traders to make their inputs, learning from the experiences from the STR implemented by the three RECs independently. Ms. Kimaro added that, once fully rolled out, the STR Framework will benefit women as it will ease movement of goods across the Tripartite area, allowing women traders to have a broader market for their goods.
The Senior Trade Officer at the EAC Secretariat, Ms. Prisca Mbaga, underscored the importance of engaging informal cross border traders, especially women and youth in shaping TSTR Framework. Her remarks were complemented by the Senior Officer for Trade at the SADC Secretariat, Dr. Rinaldo Mendiate and the Coordinator for the TSTR Project, Mr. Rangarirai Machemedze, who welcomed the inputs from Informal Cross border Traders. They highlighted that their inputs, largely drawn from their real-time experiences in cross border trade, will strengthen the STR Framework and ensure that it addresses their needs.
During the two-day Consultative Meeting with informal cross border traders, participants were on oriented on the Tripartite STR Framework, key trade documents such as Certificate of Origin and Customs Declaration and Common List of Eligible Products. Participants also discussed challenges with documentation and border Procedure, the role of Trade Information Desks (TIDs) and Support Services; Monitoring, Feedback, and Trader Protection Mechanisms; Trader-Led Recommendations for STR Implementation; prevention of abuse and ensuring safety and youth and women perspectives on STR Rollout.
The consultative meeting of Informal Cross border Traders precedes another meeting scheduled for 27–28 November 2025, which will bring together representatives of the Tripartite Member States and officials from the Secretariats of COMESA, EAC, and SADC. During this meeting, participants will, among other issues, discuss harmonisation of documentation, validation of the Common List of Eligible Products, agreement on transaction thresholds and frequency, and planning for national implementation of the STR Framework.
The consultative meetings have been convened with financial support from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) through Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime Project, under which the Framework was developed.
