BBS flea market grow from strength to strength

KHONANI ONTEBETSE
Correspondent | Friday December 7, 2007 00:00

 

Ikgopoleng Disaletse from Tlokweng says that Sunday is not about going to church but about selling her wares at the flea market. Her goods include bandanas, rings, necklaces, panties, sunglasses, belts, bags, home made hats, scarves, cassettes and videos.
'I come here almost every Sunday. The authorities say we should only make use of this space during the weekend,' she says.

 
Another vendor Raymond Mosimanyana says he is a church-goer but he has no choice but to come to BBS to try sell his wares. 'I am a ZCC member. I go to church only if there is someone who can come and sell my things on my behalf,' he says. Mosimanyana stays in Mogoditshane. He says the flea market is a good initiative and a step in the right direction. 'The authorities, who came up with this initiative help some of us put bread on the table,' he says.

 
Chenisani Motswakae says that the flea market offers street vendors an opportunity to climb the ladder of success and venture into big business.
Most vendors says they have little prospects of employment. They acknowledge that the increase in street trade exists against a backdrop of high levels of unemployment. Locals say they are feeling the squeeze from foreigners with financial muscle. Disaletse says many locals are missing the flea market boom due to a combination of factors.

He says they compete with Chinese who run shops and stalls manned by locals.  She argues that the levies charged by the Gaborone City Council (GCC) prevents locals from trading in the flea market. Motswakae says that if the street vending is regulated and managed well, the traders can in the long run use the proceeds to invest and venture into big businesses.

 
'We welcome the commitment by BOCCIM to help in creating business opportunities in the country. It is one of the initiatives aimed at solving the high levels of unemployment. But at the same time, it needs close monitoring,' he says.

 
He says the new initiative will have to be implemented through workshops.
'Some Batswana are currently fronting for foreigners with money. But this thing (flea market) was introduced to empower citizens without financial muscles,' says Morokotso Baipedi. Another trader, Kgakgamatso Taolo says the market is overcrowded with foreigners with financial muscles.

The flea market has attracted Zimbabweans, Zambians, Somalis, Indians and Chinese.
Naomi Phiri from Zambia says locals should appreciate that competition is good because they can learn a lot from foreigners. She says Batswana should not consider foreigners as a threat because they can share ideas. Her sentiments are shared by Njeri Mwaura from Kenya.

She states that locals should learn from foreigners that there are businesses that are very taxing.
'You can hardly find Batswana here. I think they are not patient. They want businesses that offer them instant returns. Locals also turn up at month ends. They think that they can make profit only during month ends. And by the time they turn up, the stalls are occupied,' she says.
(Sila Press Agency)