Prominent businessman and chairperson of the Musina Chamber of Commerce Mr Jason Rana summarised the feeling of one part of the community about the fear that Zimbabweans suffering from cholera can bring the disease to the residents.

“We realize they are in dire straits there in Zimbabwe. If they are left there, they will die. Their entire healthcare system has collapsed. We must treat them with the necessary compassion,” Rana said.

He said by far the most Zimbabweans are bringing good business to Musina and to South Africa at the moment. In the run-up to the Christmas season, Musina is bustling with buyers from across the border.

“All sectors of business are thriving at the moment,” said Rana. He ascribed the buying spree from Zimbabwe to the fact that their government now allows them to buy and sell in any foreign currency. As far as liquor sales are concerned, Rana, who runs a major wholesale outlet in Musina, says business is four times as good as usual.

“There are no distillers and breweries there. Our Zimbabwe clients buy to resell also to clients in their neighbouring Malawi and parts of Zambia.”