Business, Careers & Technology Street Vendors & City Pavements ... Human congestion and pick-pocketing as vendors take Page 66 The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine August 2014
A walk around the Central Business District of Harare is becoming a daunting task by the day. Pavements were pedestrians are supposed to walk have been converted into mini tuck-shops with clothes, shoes and basic foodstuffs laid all over, making human congestion, pick-pocketing and noise pollution rife as vendors resort to outdoing one another in advertising their products. Lack of proper employment for many has seen Zimbabwe being reduced to a vending nation, with not only vegetables being sold along the streets but also intimate garments like underwear and bras. Crowded pavements are fraught with a strong stench emanating from perishable distance. A survey by The Parade showed that most of the sweets and chocolates sold on the streets have either expired or getting closer to their expiring dates. to city pavements The down-town area is particularly worse with most of these street vendors even being rude if you happen to nudge their stall. “I was once insulted by a vendor who called me all sorts of names after I stalled his table while passing by, since then I now avoid using some roads when I go home,” said Primrose Chauke. A stroll down Mbuya Nehanda Street and Robert Mugabe Way bears testimony of just how bad the vending situation in Harare has become. Every corner is stacked with wares as some stalls even overlap into the road, possibility. Outside a major supermarket situated at the corner of Robert Mugabe Street and Julius Nyerere, vendors seem to feel at ease while going about their business. Right at the door of the supermarket are vendors selling everything from canned foods to sweets, while directly opposite is a stream of women selling The Parade caught up with one vendor described the situation on the streets as a dog eat dog world. He said he was once formally employed at a heavy industrial site but when his company closed down, he had to hustle to survive. “I am lucky because I am yet to have a family of my own but my siblings still expect me to help,” Ishmael said. He added that, “most of the commodities like sweets and chocolates that people sell are nearing their expiration date or have reached its sell-by date but we get these from supermarkets on a wholesale price, with potato crisps and snacks being some of the few items that are fresh”. Ishmael argued that on a good night, he can get more than $50 from selling his commodities on the street while on some days he gets $15. Another vendor Beatrice Marumo said when she realised that people were making a living from selling food and clothes, she joined the bandwagon. Mambo said she used to trade in Epworth but later discovered that it was Business, Careers & Technology “I used to sell vegetables and other things at home but a friend of mine told me of brisk business in town and I have since resorted to street vending and trust me I’m living a better life than before,” she said. “Surely town council police may harass us during the day but when I come at night it is much better because everyone is busy going home. Even law enforcement agents buy our stuff without arresting us,” Marumo added. A visit to Chitungwiza also showed that the trend of bulk selling was catching up, with shoes being sold on the front pavements of large supermarkets such as TM stores. During weekends it is a common sight to see food and clothing sharing the same crowded pavement with people. if I quit this where am I going to get another job, we are trying to earn a living in a country that is not doing well economically. “Until that time when the government is able to create proper employment for all of us, I will keep on doing what I am doing,” added another vendor who requested anonymity. Though the Harare City Council often had a blitz to curb street vending, those like Ishmael and Marumo only start operating their businesses late in the day and way after normal working hours. Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate stands at 11 percent contrary to 85 percent claimed by some economists. They allege that out of the total population of 13 061 239, 68.2 percent are economically active while 32.5 percent are not. The ZimStat survey also indicated that 3, 7 million people are employed in the informal sector with women constituting the majority with 54, 6 percent. Last year the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development alleged that $7, 4 million was circulating in the informal sector and needed to be harnessed into banks. TP The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine August 2014 Page 67
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