OK in ground-breaking SA deal

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OK Zimbabwe Limited, has partnered with a South Africa-based company Kawena (Pty) Ltd on deal that will allow the cross-border purchase of goods electronically from the two neighbouring countries.

LISTED retail group, OK Zimbabwe Limited, has partnered with a South Africa-based company Kawena (Pty) Ltd on deal that will allow the cross-border purchase of goods electronically from the two neighbouring countries.

Gamma Mudarikiri

In an announcement yesterday, OK Zimbabwe said it concluded the deal targeted at Zimbabweans domiciled in South Africa estimated at over two million people, on July 1.

The deal will enable exiled Zimbabweans to buy groceries for their families through what is dubbed as a “shop easy card voucher”, that enables users to shop electronically.

“OK Zimbabwe limited has signed an agreement with Kawena (Pty) Ltd to enable Zimbabweans residents in South Africa to purchase goods for families and friends back home,” part of the announcement reads.

OK said the idea was born out of a realisation that many Zimbabweans resident in South Africa, who were gainfully employed, faced challenges in buying goods for their families back home.

According to the announcement, the necessary authorisation of the business line has been approved by the Reserve Bank of South and Zimbabwe.

The partnership is expected to tap into the $500 million per year which is remitted by Zimbabweans resident in South Africa. Kawena has been running similar operations for Mozambique residents in South Africa for over a decade.

South Africa remains one of Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partners following China.

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