The cobblers who used to operate at the old market like Willie Phiri and his colleagues have relocated and found shelter at the shoe street. Phiri says he learnt the trade from his father and now he can repair shoes and fit soles.
He used to be his father’s assistant until he felt confident enough to set up his own establishment. He said the shoe-men cooperate and do not scramble for customers. Each one has his own customers. When one of the cobblers is running short of an item, he borrows from a colleague.
Phiri, who orginates from Zimbabwe says he has been working as a cobbler for five years. He has no regrets about the business. “I don’t have any problem with fixing shoes because it is a source of income for me. I am earning a living from the money that I make as a cobbler. I can’t sleep on an empty stomach since I am doing something for myself. I think it is a good job just like others.” He disclosed that when customers bring shoes, they have to pay a deposit to buy the necessary material. But it is also for security in case the customer vanishes without taking the shoes.
Phiri says they have a major problem with customers who do not collect their shoes. In such cases, he sells the shoes to recover his costs. But if the shoes are in bad condition, he regards it as a loss.
Phiri goes to work every day but rain interrupts their operations because they work under a tree. He has been licensed by the Gaborone City Council.
An elderly cobbler, David Karimba says he has been fixing shoes for most of his life. He used to operate at the station, just outside the old Gaborone Hotel.
Karimba lamented that business is bad. Things were much better for him when they were still operating at the market. Unlike the other cobblers, he does not have many pairs of shoes in front on him. He is not interested in strangers because in the past some university students promised to give them machines that were never delivered.
Bushy Moekwa found that fixing shoes was the only way to earn a living after searching for a job in vain. He learnt the trade from the cobblers whom he found at the station.
Moekwa who is married with five children, supports his family with the proceeds from the business. He proudly declares that he has been able to send his children to school. “When you are self employed, it is not like when you are working for somebody. If you don’t come to work, everything comes to a standstill,” he says.
Moekwa said he does not make much profit but he is able to survive with the little he earns.
He said the only setback is that he is not able to save. He believes that if they form a syndicate, they might get assistance from the government.
Dennis Phiri is a veteran who has been in the business for more than 30 years. He started fixing shoes in his home country, Zimbabwe.
The self taught Phiri said cobbling has become his life. He says that this is the only job that he can do. “You can’t just sit at home when you have bills to settle,” he said.
He can fix every type of shoe including soccer boots.
Phiri said he has established a good relationship with his customers. “But the only problem is when you lose a customer’s shoe. You have to pay for it.”
He said at one stage, thieves broke into the store where they keep the shoes. They had to compensate the customers for the stolen shoes.
