Vendors line roads to sell ‘herbal vaccine’
AS rising Covid-19 cases choke Limpopo’s public health system, some local folks are making a quick buck selling African wormwood along the N1 to Polokwane and other major routes in the province.
Known in these parts as lengana (or umhlonyane in Nguni), the wild herb is now a permanent feature on the N1 highway and on routes like R81, from Polokwane to Giyani.
The wild herb, also known by its scientific name Artemisia afra, has been trusted for ages for treating symptoms associated with flu and colds. And given the current Covid-19 scare, the road sellers are coining it.
Frans Mashangwane (53) has been selling herbal tea and prickly pear for seven years on the R81. However, it has been his lengane that has seen many motorists pull up as they leave or drive into Polokwane.
“I only started selling lengana recently. I saw some people selling it and then I went to Polokwane to buy stock. I spent R1 400. So far I have made just over R300 after selling it for four days. It’s selling faster than other products and I’m able to feed my fours kids,”
Mashangwane, who lives in Sebayeng village, some 30km northeast of Polokwane, said.
He has never been formally employed and had always relied on informal trade to make a living.
“Besides making money, this is also my way of helping my province get through this pandemic. Some people use lengana to steam while others boil and drink it. It’s a safe traditional medicine.”
Mashangwane plies his trade from 7am to 4pm.
Some people in the province believe the herb could be the natural vaccine against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosemary Malabi (31) and other vendors near The Ranch Resort on the N1, walk through dense bushes to harvest lengana. Just like Mashangwane, most of them had never had formal employment.
Malabi, who started selling lengana on New Year’s Day, said: “I’ve been making an average of R200 daily. It’s easy money and it feeds my family because my partner also sells here.”
However, Limpopo health MEC Phophi
Ramathuba warned that lengana users must consult their doctors before using the herb as it might have side effects.
“Medicine must be dispensed and prescribed by those who qualify because they are able to account should there be a problem. All medicines have side effects,” said Ramathuba.
Another concern with lengana trade has been for environmental reasons. During the peak of the herb’s trade in the midst of the coronavirus’ first wave last winter, the Environmental Management Inspectorate, otherwise known as the Green Scorpions by the wider public, expressed concern for possible over-harvesting of the plant in its natural habitat.