A Day In the Life Of A Vendor

 

If you’ve ever been to the bustling city centre of most African countries, you’ve probably been swarmed by relentless vendors. But have you stopped to consider the positive influence these people have on the economy? Yes, they can be persistent, and rather convincing too. You often think you’ve cut yourself a bargain on those avocadoes, but after doing the math on the way home you feel a little deflated.

For a start, we don’t often stop to consider that these people have made a conscious choice to sell you an array of groceries, electronics, garments, crafts, tailoring services, and my favourite- windscreen wipers. I personally prefer politely declining the good-natured mop man at my window than having to file a police report against the theft of my personal belongings. To get to the point, vendors choosing to be vendors brings our crime rate down significantly. They are simply people existing in harsh economical climates, with high unemployment rates, who want to feed their families and send their children to school in decent uniform with second-hand textbooks.

Many vendors happen to be women, with 88% of vendors in Ghana, 68% in South Africa and 63% in Kenya, all females. Vendors generate revenue for cities through certain taxes, permit payments, and fines. They are also responsible for keeping their area tidy and welcoming to attract shoppers, adding vibrancy and culture to the streets. They offer quick, cheap, and convenient services. For example, a lot of us have left our USB chargers at home and have opted to purchase a light-up, neon one from the side of the road so we can car charge our cells before that important thing we need our phones for. Many vendors source their goods from local importers and manufacturers, others rely on their crafting talents, which is an attraction to tourists.

 

Although we don’t really stop to consider this while winding up our windows when the lady with homemade dishwasher approaches our line of cars, these people really do go through a hard day’s work. For starters, high traffic areas are not usually close to their place of residence, meaning most lug large bags and crates of goods for a few good kilometres- it’s physically straining. They are exposed to heat, rain, and cold- often with only a tree or storefront for shelter. Access to clean water and bathrooms is a concern for many, especially those preparing freshly cooked stew for the lunchtime rush. Many African countries have dangerous traffic, with traffic lights either non-existent or not working, the risk of being hit by frustrated motorists is evident.

 

I also know for a fact that most Zimbabweans save a pretty penny on car maintenance costs, thanks to the men filling in the potholes (that would otherwise go unattended to) on suburban streets with scrap bricks and clay. So next time try a polite decline, and maybe offer them your bottle of tap water, and for the kids, that chappie your 8-year-old left in the cup holder a month ago.