That will be one of their unlucky moments. These are the hitchhikers at a bus stop after the round-about of the Francistown-Bulawayo road. It is popularly referred to as the 'Bulawayo stop'. By day it is safe to hike from here but at nightfall it is a different ball game. Chances of attack and robbery are very high. According to 28-year-old Rebecca Setshwantsho of Molepolole, a vendor at the stop, the place is very dangerous after sunset. "I am forced to stop operating around 5pm to avoid being attacked and robbed of my money and possibly my stock."
Another vendor, 30-year-old Sephiwe Baathodi of Makobo village says they have no choice but to stop operating before it gets dark. "This means we are failing to take advantage of the market share that usually increases around that time as most people come to the stop after five. We however can't risk our lives because as darkness falls the freedom that we enjoy during the day becomes history. Many people get attacked and robbed of their valuables at this stop," she argues.
