COVID-19 EFFECTS: Hawkers’ businesses dying
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M– While the relaxation of cross-border travelling restrictions may came as a relief for many, hawkers are still enduring pain and suffering.
Instead of enjoying crossing the borders without testing for COVID-19, which was a costly exercise, the hawkers are lamenting lack of business.
They are blaming everything on low salaries, as most of their customers have not seen a salary raise for a while now.
During the time when testing was mandatory for people travelling in and out of the country, government was subsidising the E750 testing fee such that each hawkers would fork out only E250 towards the costs.
When this condition was removed and replaced with a certificate confirming full vaccination, most people were elated. To most hawkers this meant unlimited or uncontrolled travelling as opposed to the rotational arrangement which was meant to allow everyone an opportunity to stock their wares.
However, two months down the line, hawkers are not happy. They are buying stock which they are not able to sell to anyone as most people do not have money.
EffEcts
“We are still being haunted by the effects of COVID-19 despite the relaxation of most restrictions. No one has money to buy our stuff,” said Nomhlangano Sukati, a Manzini-based hawker.
She said during the first two years of COVID-19 some people lost their job while others lost business.
“Most employers also did not review salaries, citing the economic
Second-hand clothing vendors displaying their wares during a flea market.
effects of the pandemic. This has crippled our customers because their salaries no longer counter the inflation,” she said.
Another hawker, Similo Dlamini, who specialises on second-hand shoes, said people would rather spend the little money they have on food and transport so that they are able to get to work to make the next salary, than buy clothes.
“Things are really bad here. Previously I would go to Maputo to stock up every Monday, but now I go there twice a month because no one buys the shoes.”
When asked why he even goes back to stock again without finishing the previous stock, he said, “My regular customers want to see something fresh every week. So I go there just to add new items which I will place in front, on my stall just to attract customers who will come here thinking everything on the table is new stuff.”
This vendor said he has been in this business since he completed high school 22 years ago.
REcEssion
He said the only time that he had a similar experience was during the economic recession in 2010. “I have never had such an experience due to a pandemic,” he said.
A woman who would stock from South Africa, said she has not been able to do so since the beginning of 2020. She said she was not able to get the relief that government presented for people who lost income due to COVID-19. “Even now I have been trying to access the E45 million meant to assist SMEs without success.”
She said she spoke to one lady who received E20 000 from Eswatini Bank to kickstart her business and she told her how she applied for the fund. “However, when I tried to apply I was told about very difficult terms and conditions that I failed to meet due to a chieftaincy dispute back at my umphakatsi.”
Pre-qualification requirements for both the formal and informal sector are available at Eswatini Bank and businesses were encouraged to request for the information on the requirements and prepare the necessary documentation.