From a life of struggle to stability: Dzatutwa’s story

In 2006, returning from South Africa where he had gone to buy stocks for his vending business, Dzatutwa almost lost his left leg. The leg was saved but he now has to use a walking stick for support.

Dzatutwa’s day starts early, leaving home by 6.00am for work to be ready for that random customer. Vending in undesignated places has posed, for a long time, significant challenges, especially given his disability. He vividly recalls the authorities' frequent chases. "Each time we were caught, I had to pay $20 in fines, which was the amount I needed to re-stock," he says, highlighting the daily struggle to retain his earnings amidst the constant fear of fines.

The introduction of the Chesvingo Safe Market has been a game-changer for Dzatutwa and many others. This market provides a secure and stable environment, eliminating the fear of fines and the need to constantly evade the police. With a sense of relief, Dzatutwa shares, "As a person with a disability, I am happy with this market. Now, I no longer lose revenue through paying fines, and I don’t have to run away from the police. Even if I make $2 in a day, it belongs to me. Since the Safe Market is still new and customers are adjusting to this set-up, I now make between $10 and $20 per week, and I no longer run out of stock."

The flow of steady income is significant in that it has, and will, change his standard of living and enhance family stability.!

Before the market was constructed, Dzatutwa attended basic business management which included planning and budgeting, among others. "One of the key lessons I learned from training is to keep money for re-stocking the business. We learned to budget so that we don’t fail to stock up in the future," he explains. These skills will be crucial in helping him to manage his business more effectively and ensure its sustainability.

Dzatutwa's optimism about the future is clear. The safe market has given him hope and a sense of security. Though he’s not yet able to cover all the costs for his three daughters—one who has completed high school and two primary school, he is determined to see them through school. His monthly expenses, including school fees, rent, food, and electricity, add up to around $250."Our lives as vendors have been improved by this Safe Market. We can now not only provide for our families, but we view the Market foundation for our children's future.”