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Mirriam Madiye

Features Writer

“Longer than an earthquake, a pandemic shakes your life and living,” says Indian philosopher, Kumar Jagadeesh, as he aptly describes the effects of Covid-19 on economies around the globe.

The pandemic has affected almost every facet of life of every individual in the world.

Jagadeesh’s statement may however, not aptly be true for the traders at Glen View area 8 home industry along Willowvale Road in Harare, as they have barred Covid-19 from shattering their lives and dreams.

When cases of Covid-19 were first reported in Zimbabwe, resulting in a complete lockdown, Glen View 8 Complex, like many other small to medium businesses was closed to curb the spread of the novel virus.

Yet, traders instead of bowing down to the pressures that came with Covid-19, found other ways of sustaining their livelihoods.

They are now avoiding “problems and costs” associated with operating from inside the complex and are turning nearby houses into mini-factories.

Today, houses around Glen View 8 Complex house the informal traders, who carve out furniture like wardrobes, lounge suites, chairs and beds, among other items.

In an interview with The Herald, a trader at the complex who identified himself as Rasta Tawanda said they resorted to operating from houses to counter competition in the complex.

“Most customers buy from us because they can negotiate for better prices unlike inside the complex where it’s a bit difficult,” he said.

“Making furniture from homes is cheaper because I don’t pay rentals. I operate from my lodgings and asked my landlord for permission to do my business.”

The traders have spread from the complex into surrounding houses, exposing residents to potential health hazards.

The whole neighbourhood has now become a marketplace.

As one enters the neighbourhood, which is one of the nerve centres of the country’s informal sector, it is a hive of activity.

From afar, hundreds of people jostle their way into the complex and nearby houses to buy furniture on a daily basis.

Different types of cars, including furniture shop trucks, also make their way into and out of the informal market place.

Some are fully loaded with beds, lounge suites, tables and kitchen cupboards.

This is their daily routine.

To them, business is normal and most seem oblivious of Covid-19 regulations.

There is complacency in following the regulations. People are not sanitised as they enter the stalls or the houses they work from.

Clients are not sanitised, while social distancing is non-existent.

Wearing masks is a thing of the past as for the traders as go about their day-to-day operations.

Market bullies (magombiro) at the complex determine prices of furniture for everyone. These set a price for beds, kitchen chairs, headboards etc.

No one is allowed to charge over or below the set price.

To avoid this, traders have resorted to using the houses near the complex in order to avert the market bullies who put a premium and make a “fortune”.

At the complex, the market bullies own large areas of space they lease out to the traders for a fee.

The space barons are blamed for milking the vulnerable traders.

Influential officials have also been accused of allegedly interfering with the day-to-day running of the business of these traders.

“These influential people control the activities of the complex to such an extent that they have forced other traders to leave the complex as they occupy large areas of spaces,” said another trader who feared victimisation.

Other traders said operating from the houses was better as this gave them enough space to safely store their wares.

If anything, they feel their wares are safer at the houses from thieves, fire and bad weather.

Mr Nelson Mushamba, another trader who manufacturers lounge suites and beds at a nearby house, said some customers sub-contract him to do their jobs from their homes, especially for upholstery.

He also makes new lounge suites from his lodgings.

“I no longer operate from the complex,” he said. “I operate from my customers’ homes. Here, I do my job well without being affected by these market bullies. My son is using the stall in the complex.”

While traders seem comfortable in their new space, they could be in contravention of city by-laws.

For starters, they have converted homes meant for residential purposes to commercial use. This means they are paying the wrong rates to council.

Their move is a loud cry for the MDC-Alliance-led council to deliver on promises made.

In August 2019, council promised to relocate the traders from Glen View 8 Complex to Glen View 1 home industries to pave way for the construction of a double storey building said to house more than 2 400 traders.

The temporary structure would house them for two months, but nothing materialised.

Almost every year, Glen View Area 8 is gutted by fire. Properties and woodwork machinery worth millions of dollars are lost. Last year, the complex was burnt on four occasions.