ON January 2, 2025, Castigo Quembo (18), of Matazi village just outside Manica in Mozambique, left home and sneaked into Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point that is a stone’s throw away from the Machipanda-Forbes Border Post.

Quembo, together with two close friends, made their way to Harare, where they settled in the bustling suburb of Mbare.

The trio now eke out a living selling sweets and airtime vouchers.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of young Mozambicans illegally crossing into the country to earn a living through vending.

The allure of the free-flowing US dollar, which is presently the dominant medium of exchange in Zimbabwe’s multi-currency system, has made the country a lucrative destination for aspiring traders.

In neighbouring countries, the use of the US dollar in day-to-day transactions is strictly prohibited.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that Zimbabwe was home to approximately 8 000 Mozambican refugees and asylum seekers in 2021.

The figures might actually be higher, as the majority of the refugees are undocumented.

Apart from selling sweets and airtime vouchers, some of these youngsters sell second-hand shoes.

These roving vendors, popularly known as “mano”, mostly wear colourful reflective gear and often travel in pairs.

In Portuguese, “mano” loosely translates to “brother” or “man”.

Aside from Harare, some of these youngsters have settled mostly in parts of Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.

In Harare, the young people, with their reflective vending gear, are adding both colour and “vibrancy” to the capital’s streets.

In interviews, the young vendors gave varied reasons for preferring to settle in Zimbabwe.

“I came here to work and raise money that I will later on invest in my home country. I want to emulate my brother, who came here, worked hard and returned home with a substantial amount of money,” said one of the vendors, who identified himself as Moises.

Using the money he raised from vending in Harare, Moises’ brother now reportedly owns a chain of tuck shops in the border town of Manica.

Caetano, another young Mozambican vendor, is in the country for a different reason.

“My aim is to go and live permanently in South Africa. I am here to raise money for my trip to that country,” said Caetano, who is barely 16.

For Jao, another vendor, opportunities and better standards of living in Zimbabwe were the major drawcards.

“I come from a very poor village and there are no opportunities for me. I was told that life is much better in Harare,” Jao said.

Luckily, he has made a seamless transition to Zimbabwe since he comes from Manica province, where a version of Shona is spoken.

Hardships

However, their pursuit for a better life comes with many challenges.

Some of the youngsters are reportedly being exploited by their handlers, who allegedly force them to work long hours for little or, at times, no pay.

“The six of us share a single, tiny room in Mbare hostels. Some of my countrymen worked for no pay,” Jao revealed.

The vendors are often at risk of losing their wares and meagre earnings, as some rogue law-enforcement agents are taking advantage of their lack of documentation to demand bribes.

For Caetano, the prospect of getting arrested and deported sends shivers down his spine.

“My heart skips a beat each time I see a police officer. For me, it will be back to square one if I am arrested and deported,” a visibly concerned Caetano said.

He, however, vowed that in the event of deportation, he will “definitely” return to Harare’s streets.

Despite the hardships, the young migrants are determined.

They work long hours and some of them walk from their lodgings in Mbare to the city centre every day.

“We have no choice but to work. Life in Zimbabwe is much better . . . and this motivates us to work day and night,” said one of the Mozambican vendors, who opted not to be named.

The young vendors roam around for potential customers.

For instance, on a typical workday, the shoe vendors can walk from Mbare to places like Braeside, Hatfield, Queensdale, Cranborne and parts of Eastlea.

Francisco Machazi, who sold his goats in Mozambique to raise capital, wants to raise US$1 000 before he returns to his country “for good”.

To achieve this, he adheres to a strict budget.

“I save as much money as I can every day. The profit margins are very low and this forces me to maintain financial discipline,” he said.

Despite the challenges, they are determined to use Zimbabwe as a springboard to a better life.

“I am going to buy cattle and build a modest house for my parents. A lot of people from my area came here and their lives were transformed,” another youthful vendor, who requested anonymity, said.

Suspicions

Some people, however, believe the

vendors could be involved in criminal activities.

“It is not possible for one to earn a living by selling sweets and a few airtime vouchers.

‘‘I suspect that some might be involved in drug peddling,” said Tatenda Motsi, a fellow vendor who trades in an assortment of goods.

But Lovemore Mthombeni, who works alongside Motsi, dismissed this notion.

“There might be a few rotten apples, but the majority of these guys are primarily seeking economic opportunities. The majority of them are hardworking; they toil day and night,” Mthombeni said.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza said he has yet to come across a case in which the young vendors are arrested for crimes other than vending and obstruction.

“I am yet to come across a case in which they are arrested for serious crimes.

‘‘If anyone knows or suspects criminal activities, that person can contact the police and investigations will commence,” Insp Chakanza said.

Petronella Nyamapfene, the team leader at Justice for Children, an organisation that seeks to ensure justice for children below the age of 18, is yet to “come across cases in which young immigrant vendors are in trouble and seeking legal assistance”.

Mrs Susan Ngani, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Harare provincial social welfare officer, said some young illegal immigrants who were arrested are currently being cared for by the social welfare department in Mbare.

“There are bilateral issues that prohibit the deportation of children. Additionally, international law prohibits the deportation of children,” she explained.

“As such, we are keeping them in safe houses, just as we do with local children. Those who are above 18 years old are referred to the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training for further management.”

However, Mrs Ngani could not immediately disclose the number of children in their custody.

Young Mozambican vendors are also common in areas bordering Zimbabwe and South Africa. Sunday Mail