Have you ever wondered how entrepreneurship looks like in our neighbouring states? Despite facing a high rate of unemployment, Zimbabweans have shown remarkable resilience by turning to street vending as a means of survival. The streets of Bulawayo are bustling with vendors striving to make ends meet, with a popular choice being the sale of cold drinks and ice slabs to keep them chilled throughout the day.
Samkeliso Ngwenya, a cold drink reseller, who lives in the Pelandaba suburb shared that her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start this business, as she preferred the independence of working for herself rather than waiting for a pay check from someone else. She acknowledged the challenges that come with running a small business, such as competition from other vendors and the scarcity of change, but emphasized the importance of being friendly and building relationships with customers to attract business.
To keep their drinks cold, vendors like Samkeliso rely on ice suppliers like Zwoluga Moyo, who identified a niche in the market due to the hot weather conditions which sometimes reach 39 degrees marred by power outages affecting the quality of ice blocks. Zwoluga uses word-of-mouth marketing and satisfied customers to promote her business, with a goal of becoming the go-to ice supplier for street vendors. She mentiones that she relies on her mother who has a car to carry her ice from Hillcrest to town. Samukeliso said they turned to suppliers like Zwoluga even though there are shops that sell ice because they are cheaper compared to the shops that sell it double the price.
Nomaqhawe Nhliziyo, from Entumbane suburb who also sells ice, entered the business to generate income for essentials and highlighted the challenges of late payments from customers and the physical strain of carrying heavy ice blocks, as she carries them herself commuting on a taxi to town. However, she invested in a deep freezer to increase her supply capacity, sometimes selling up to eight full ice blocks a day.
Despite the harsh economic conditions in Zimbabwe, these entrepreneurial endeavours not only provide livelihoods for individuals but also foster a sense of community and support among the vendors. By working together and leveraging their skills, they are finding ways to sustain themselves and alleviate the strain associated with unemployment.”
Thulisa Nyathi
Soweto Sunrise News
