Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
Vendors and enterprising individuals who have joined the car boot sales craze have found new, unique selling points in Gweru — traffic circles.
The Midlands provincial capital has a number of traffic circles or roundabouts. When coming from Bulawayo — a motorist is met by a roundabout at Fairmile Hotel followed by another one near Gweru Sports club.
When coming from Shurugwi, there is a roundabout at Senga turn-off in the Kopje area. Travellers from Mvuma see one in Riverside suburb and there is another one near Gweru Technical College when one is coming from Harare. Even when coming from Lower Gweru there is a roundabout at Mtapa cemetery.
What is now unique about these roundabouts is the thriving car boot sales and vendors. Some come on lorries and smaller trucks and park by the roundabouts selling different kinds of items.
Some specialise in fresh produce such as potatoes, fruits and vegetables and others in second-hand clothing. Brisk business is mostly recorded at Senga turn-off, Gweru Sports Club and Fairmile roundabouts.
In separate interviews, the traders said there is a lot of traffic at roundabouts, hence sales are high.
“I have been selling from my car boot for the past year since the start of the lockdown when my vending stall was destroyed by Gweru City Council. I just joined other people who park their vehicles and start trading. I sell fruits and vegetables which I bring from as far as Nyanga, Chipinge,” said Mr Mark Sita.
Mrs Tariro Mutapwa said every day she gets sizeable returns.
“When business is low, I go home with at least US$50,” she said.
On a good day, she makes double.
Mrs Mutapwa deals in potatoes whose prices range from US$5 to US$15 a pocket.
“Thinking of applying for a proper vending stall is far from my mind. If council police come, I just close my car doors and drive away. It’s easy,” she giggles.
Mrs Margaret Nkiwane from Southdowns suburb said when shops close, she rushes to the roundabout at Gweru Sports club to buy fruits and vegetables.
“These car boot sales can be handy at times because of the curfew. Shops close early and when I need tomatoes or cabbage, I rush to the roundabout. And we can also negotiate prices,” she said.
A trader who requested anonymity said instead of looking for a vending stall, he is selling off his truck.
“There is no vending space in Gweru. The vending stalls are said to be under construction. They only opened one at Kudzanayi Long Distance bus terminus but we can’t all fit in there. Remember we were about 4 000 in that rank before it was refurbished to accommodate only 800. So, I am one of those who have resorted to using my car as we wait and hope to get a vending stall when council completes construction of vending stalls in the central business district,” she said.
However, Gweru City Council spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said council is going to descend heavily on those doing business at the roundabouts.
“It’s illegal to do vending at an undesignated place or area. It is illegal to sell fresh produce in such areas and we are warning these vendors to desist henceforth. We are soon going to launch an operation to take them off the streets,” she said.
Ms Chingwaramusee urged vendors to register with council so that they have proper vending places.
“We are in the process of constructing vending stalls at Wimpy, Kombayi, Mtapa and we urge these people to register so that they are located in a proper vending place,” she said.
Away from roundabouts, car boot sales have also become popular in both low and high-density areas. In high density areas, at places such as, Mkoba 6, Mkoba 16 and Senga shopping centres the concept is rife. The vendors usually sell second-hand imported goods and clothing items.
Online Reporter