My journey of hope for a better future

Early in her journey as a vendor, Lucia's days were fraught with uncertainty and risk. "I used to sell my wares along Chesvingo Avenue and Kelvin Majange Road," she recalls. Reflecting on the constant threat of having to, sometimes, abandon her goods to escape authorities or, worse, seeing them confiscated. She reminisced: "we had to run from authorities, abandon our goods to avoid arrest, laying our goods open for confiscation...sometimes our wares just disappeared."

These challenges were a daily reality for Lucia and many other vendors, making it difficult to sustain their businesses.

The allocation of a safe workspace at Chesvingo Safe Market marked a significant turning point for Lucia.

A woman with family responsibilities

As a woman, Lucia has faced multiple challenges in her entrepreneurial journey. Among them are the expectations placed on women when the man of the house is the sole provider. "When men are the sole providers, they often expect us to contribute, but their approach can be oppressive, especially when we lack the capacity to help," she shares. The Safe Market offers some solution to these challenges, providing not only a secure place to generate income from, but also essential support services. "This market is the best we have seen. It not only helps us generate income to pay for our children’s tuition and buy food, but it also houses a counselling centre, which is particularly beneficial for us women, considering the various emotional and psychological burdens we face."

The Safe Market boasts a GBV One-stop Centre, managed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit (ZRP VFU), Musasa Project, and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) offering critical services to survivors of gender-based violence, as well as legal aid, counselling, and emergency support.

Balancing work and family responsibilities has been another drawback for her. "Working with our children at the market stall causes a lot of disturbances," she says, highlighting the difficulties of managing her business while caring for her family. The Safe Market's nursery school offers a potential solution. Though currently out of reach for her because she is not yet generating enough income to cover the $30.00 tuition that is required for her toddlers to be in the nursery school, it is her wish as a mother that they spend the day there, close to her.

The ECD Centre run by Masvingo Teachers College, ensures that the vendors children, and nearby communities have access to quality early childhood education. For sustainable operations of the Market, vendors pay a monthly fee of $10 and the ECD Centre levies $30 per child.

© Shaun Bizani

© Shaun Bizani

Despite these obstacles, Lucia remains optimistic about the future. She recognizes the need for additional support to overcome current challenges. "We still need help in certain areas," she notes. "Right now, we don’t have the capital to buy stock. It is also quite taxing to be carrying the stock to and from home as it is a long distance. If we get guidance in solving these issues, the future looks quite promising."

Lucia's story is testament to the potential transformative power of the SEDWAY project which is providing safe workspace to 80 informal retail clothing vendors (65 females and 15 males). The market’s design includes essential amenities such as running water, sanitation, and waste management facilities, contributing to a healthier and safer environment for both the vendors and customers. By providing training, safe markets, and support systems, SEDWAY is not only enhancing the livelihoods of women like Lucia but also fostering sustainable enterprise development.

With continued support from the AfDB, ILO, and the Government of Zimbabwe, Lucia and many others in her situation, can look forward to a brighter and future full of promise!