- Zimbabweans also posing as Zezuru vendors
Local vendors have been blamed for the mushrooming of a foreign dominated informal sector in Francistown through fronting and shady deals with Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals. This is despite the trade being reserved for citizens only.
Chairperson of the Francistown Umbrella Informal Sector, David Mbulawa revealed during a workshop organised by the City council in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) last week.
“The issue of foreigners trading as vendors – selling and owning stalls in our streets is something which the police, the Council and bye law officers are grappling with. The non-citizens are being covered and shielded by us. We are the ones who hide them, sell for them and have deals with them. We give them our licences to import and clear groundnuts, sweet potatoes and other stuff from neighbouring countries. The problem starts from the borders,” said Mbulawa.
“A sad scenario is, Batswana are the ones who are selling these groundnuts, beans, sweet and potatoes on behalf of foreigners. After selling bags and bags of the goods, making thousands of Pulas, they are given a few hundred Pula as their cut.”
Mbulawa told the participants who were mainly women and youth, that they are the ones who can put a stop to this worrisome trend and clean up the streets.
“If there is a raid by law enforcement officers, we tip off the foreigners not to come to town or sell by the roadsides. Foreigners are making money on our streets, while our children, siblings and elderly have not space to sell their wares, more young people, retirees will be joining us.”
The chairperson also urged informal vendors to join associations in order to make collective decisions and for their concerns to be heard and attended to.
Meanwhile, Francistown City Mayor Godisang Radisigo weighed in his voice on foreigners masquerading as Zezurus and plying trades meant for Batswana.
“Visit those sites where they patch or mend tyres, most of these people there are non-citizens. When Council raids those businesses and confiscate the equipment, a Motswana comes to our offices claiming the equipment. Even politicians are involved,” highlighted Radisigo.
“But these businesses are meant for Batswana, and you are to employ a Motswana with an Omang. So that anytime, the relevant authorities come for inspect the person at the business site produce the relevant licences,” continued the Mayor.
On another note, Mayor Radisigo urged the informal sector to desist from smuggling prohibited products, such as bleaching creams, pills and aphrodisiac tablets.
“Let us import goods from outside the country but we must account for them. Do not smuggle items which you will not able to sell freely. Each time you are on the edge and looking over your shoulder and on the lookout for the cops”, cautioned the Mayor.
“If you see yourself selling goods which can only be sold at night, or are only sold by a particular individual and through someone, then know you are treading on slippery ground.”
