Survival Struggles: Child Vendors in the Shadows of Poverty
Child vendors bemoan poverty as the major push to vending trying to make ends meet. Kontuthu News crew observed that the children sell various goods to earn some money, from fruit vendors on street corners to young boys selling airtime and snacks to commuters.
This vending of children is propelled by poverty, domestic turmoil, and in some cases, children being left with grandparents or relatives while the parents hustle and bustle in the city to earn a living. Nkosi, one of the child vendors, narrated how he lives with Gogo and how selling items on the street is what sustains them.
Sole Lifeline
“I sell bananas every day, and that is my only source of income, and have been doing this for as long as I can remember. I’ve gotten used to it now,” he said. His Gogo, who takes care of her, is unable to work due to her old age; hence she heavily relies on Nkosi to provide for them.
Nkosi’s story resonates with many other Zimbabwean children who come from low-income households. Another 10-year-old child vendor, Thando, sells vegetables on weekends and even buys snacks and drinks that he then sells to fans during soccer matches at the local stadium.
“I sell vegetables on weekends, and it’s the only way I make money to support my mother,” he said. Thando’s story reflects the struggles of children whose parents are unemployed or unable to provide for them. Another 13-year-old child vendor, Nyasha, spoke of a specific incident where things were confiscated by the BCC police while she was selling in the CBD.
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Coping With Hardships
“The police took all my fruits, I spent the night without food because all the money I had was used to restock my supplies,” she said. Nyasha’s story speaks to one of the many challenges that child vendors face, with arbitrary police actions often leaving them in dire situations.
Despite the children’s struggles, child vending is illegal in Zimbabwe. The government has been making efforts to stop the practice. The government passed the Child’s Rights Act, which stipulates that no child under the age of eighteen should be engaged in any form of commercial activity.
However, with poverty being rampant in many parts of the country, some families see no other alternative than to send their children to earn on the street. With little enforcement of these laws, many child vendors continue to sell on the streets.
Child Street Vendors’ Welfare
Moreover, while some organizations are trying to help the children go to school or learn new skills. Others argue that banning the activity outright will only lead to more harm than good for the children and their families.
Child vendors in Zimbabwe face many challenges that include lack of education, child labor exploitation, abusive police actions, and more.
However, as long as poverty in the country persists, these children will continue to hit the streets and help their families make ends meet. Perhaps this is an issue that requires us all to step up to the plate and work towards a future where child vending is no longer a necessary way of life.
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