In the community

Hwange vendors brave Covid-19, decaying economy to earn a living

Published

3 years ago

January 5, 2022

BY NOTHANDO DUBE

It is a demanding and strenuous business that requires greeting and smiling to all customers, but Hwange vegetable vendors say the trade has been rewarding for them even during Covid-19 induced restrictions.

Not only does the money help them to pay school fees, but it is also used to pay rentals, buy food, settle bills and even take care of their extended families.

This publication visited some popular stalls in Hwange’s Number 1 rank, which are dominated by youths and women who sell various products ranging from fresh fruits like apples and mangoes to green vegetables, brooms, seedings, herbs and many other lowly prized goods that fetch as little as $100.

Vendors like Busi Ncube, a 36-year- old single mother, say they have been able to send their children and siblings to school with proceeds from the business.

“I have been able to send my young sister to school. She is doing her A Levels now, and my son is in Form 3”, said Ncube with a smile.

She took over as her young sister’s guardian after the death of their parents and she is confident the two’s future is secure because of the income she gets from vending.

“I am a single parent,” Ncube added.

“The father left me when our child was one and a half year old and now, he is 15, but l am still able to send them to school through the business I am doing here.”

Some of the wares on sale at the market

Another proud vendor is Letwin Nyoni from Empumalanga, who said even though the business required her to spend almost the whole day being mobile, she was proud of her hustle as she recently enrolled her daughter at a local university.

“I am over 50 now, but my husband died when she was only five years old,” Nyoni said.

“I took it upon myself that l was going to fulfil his wish to see her graduate, and right now she will be starting at the Zimbabwe Open University when schools re-open.

“I make a profit of about US$5 on a good day and when you bank it, at the end of the month you realise that it can feed the family and I am proud of what I have achieved since his death.”

However, for the two women and other vendors, Covid-19 has not spared their business.

“Covid- 19 disrupted our business, we have not been doing well,” Ncube said.

“During the strict lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 it was hard because we had to use runners to get our orders from Bulawayo and it was very expensive.

“The curfews also made it difficult for us to sell perishables as we could not be on the stalls long enough.”

However, not all vendors in Hwange who are enjoying brisk business.

Nelia Phiri (50) *, who is a widow, said she was struggling to put food on the table for her family.

” My husband passed away in 2007 and things have been very hard,” Phiri said.

” Sometimes I carry my stuff and walk around in the Number 2 village compounds, selling door to door but is far from the rank and I do not make much from the business.”

At her stand, she sells vegetables, fruits and mealies where she makes about $10 profit a day.

A typical Hwange vendor’s stall

Maureen Ngwenya*, another widow who sells recyclable plastic, said she was hardly making money from the business.

” We collect cans, plastic and any other recyclable material and buyers come from Bulawayo. but the profits do not equal the labour of moving from street to street picking the material,” Ngwenya said.

”Sometimes people may think you are not normal, but we will be trying to make a living.

“There is really nothing to show for it for some of us.

Zimbabwe’s informal sector has been crying out for government support since lockdowns to slow down the spread of Covid-19 were first introduced in 2020.

Experts say the lockdowns have exacerbated Zimbabwe economic crisis and plunged millions of citizens into poverty.

*Not their real names

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

3 weeks ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

2 months ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.