STREET vendors in Teya-Teyaneng will share M50 000 prize money raised through gate takings in Lioli and Bantu charity tournament of October last year. The grateful vendors were debating on how to distribute the funds on Tuesday, with some proposing to share it equally while their committee wanted it to be used stock that would be stored and sold collectively. The tournament was sponsored by Maluti Mountain Cement and Executive Transport. It raised M60 000 in gate takings. M10 000 was taken to contribute in building a local orphanage.
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
One of the street workers, ’Mantšiuoa ’Nyane ,70, a widow who wanted the money shared equally, highlighted her personal financial responsibilities, including caring for four orphans.
“I have to make sure that they attend school, and meet their daily needs,” ’Nyane said.
’Nyane sells apples, bananas, and popcorns.
“We sometimes sleep without food,” she said.
“If the funds were to be shared equally, one would appreciate the little they would be given and see what to do with it.”
‘Nyane said since relocating from her usual spot due to the Lioli stadium construction, her earnings have decreased significantly, dropping from M100 to between M20 and M50 per day.
“Since we moved, the business is not doing well,” she said.
She said she needs at least M3 000 to boost her business.
In agreement, Itumeleng Ramaema, 22, believes that direct cash support would be more beneficial than purchasing stock, as it would allow individuals to manage their own resources more effectively.
’Mapolo Shea, who sells cabbage, disagrees, suggesting that buying stock would be much better due to lower competition.
“The competition is not high and every street worker has their own customers,” she said.
Shea said it is really unfortunate that they were relocated from their spots because of the stadium building and their loyal customers no longer know where to find them.
“I hope business will be better when we return to our original spots.”
The chairperson of the street vendors committee, Khosi Thabelo, said the committee has not yet decided on how to distribute the money.
“We will ensure that we meet with everyone involved,” Thabelo said.
He expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their good efforts.
The 2023 World Bank’s Poverty & Equity brief on Lesotho says proportion of the population living below the national poverty line fell from 56.6 percent to 49.7 percent between 2002 and 2017, a seven-percentage point reduction over a 15-year period.
The main contributor was the rapid poverty reduction in urban areas, where poverty fell from 41.5 to 28.5 percent, driven by higher formal wage and self-employment income, as well as increases in educational attainment.
In contrast, in rural areas, poverty levels stagnated, moving from 61.3 to 60.7 percent, widening an already large urban-rural divide.
The World Bank observed that a fall in remittances from South Africa and a contraction in agricultural output due to the El Niño phenomenon drove the stagnation of rural poverty.
Thus, poverty remains concentrated in rural areas, where income opportunities are limited, access to basic services and infrastructure is low, and vulnerability to environmental and economic shocks is high.
Progress in reducing poverty was accompanied by improvements in shared prosperity. Consumption growth between 2002 and 2017 was inclusive for the poorest segments of the population, leading to a reduction in the Gini index of nearly seven points to 44.9.
“Although Lesotho is now more equal than its neighbours, it remains among the top 20 percent of unequal countries, with the high inequality driven by a large public-private wage gap and a growing urban-rural divide.”
Retsepile Tšepe
