SITHOBELA VENDORS DISEMPOWERED

SITHOBELA – Community development is supposed to empower all members of a community, but in this case vendors are being disempowered.

Some of these women have been selling their wares by the roadside since 1995, but now they have been ordered to move because one resident has built a shop on that piece of land.
The resident, Jeremiah Hlandze, has already completed his structure where he intends operating a shop and a restaurant.

The Swazi News found about 16 women selling fruits, vegetables and clothing along the gravel load opposite the Sithobelweni Health Centre on Monday.
Behind their stalls was a newly-constructed shop, and in front were a couple of poles that have been erected on the ground in preparation for fencing.

The vendors have voiced out their concerns after realising that their bread-and-butter means were about to be shut down.

remove

“We were shocked when without any formal notification, we were told to remove our stalls and vacate the place immediately,” said one of the senior vendors.
She said their pleas to the owner of the shop to continue selling fell on deaf ears as the matter was also allegedly entertained by a community authority known as umsumpe, who took the shop owner’s side.
She was in the company of a handful of  other vendors when she granted the interview, narrating how they have been able to provide for their families through selling fruits and vegetables since the early  1990s.

“What we are failing to understand is why the shop owner can’t operate his shop with us here because there is no way we can survive if we relocate,” she said. She narrated that the spot was best as it is situated by the main roadside.

condition

The chief vendor said they met and reported the matter to the royal kraal with intention to find out how the shop owner was allowed to build his structure there, if the condition was that they would be moved.
She said at the umphakatsi, they told them not to move as they were planning to investigate the matter.
“However, we were shocked the following day when we woke up to more activity that suggested we should move away from this place. There were men digging holes and erecting fence poles right in front of our stall,” she said.

inspect

The old woman said they called  indvuna, who promised to send a delegation to inspect the place and find out how the issue could be resolved.
“Indeed a delegation came for an inspection and we are still waiting for feedback. However, fencing is still underway.”
Another businessman, who runs a grocery shop about 20 metres away from the newly-built one, said he was also amazed why the vendors were now being moved.

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