UNEMPLOYMENT has pushed hundreds of youths, including many that have impressive academic education, into various informal self-help projects as a means to eke out a living.
Feluna Nleya,Staff Reporter
The car-washing business is one of many forms of business that the unemployed have taken to.
However, the laws governing most of the projects that the desperate youths have resulted in them engaging in endless battles with law enforcement agents.
Of particular note are car washers in most urban areas that are in constant running battles with municipal police that have made it difficult for them to operate.
Illegal car washers yesterday told NewsDay in interviews in Harare that before the police decided to clamp down on their operations, they used to make a lot of money.
Kenneth Mavimba, who has been washing cars for the past three years, said as a result of the council clampdown, people were now afraid to have their vehicles washed at undesignated places as they risked having them clamped.
Mavimba said after failing to secure a formal job, he decided to work in the informal sector where he could make money to take care of himself and his family.
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“I have a wife and a child that I need to feed,” Mavimba said. “So since I could not find a job, I decided to do this car-washing business and for some time, it has been good. Problems started when council started to clamp cars and also arrest us if they found us washing cars on the streets.
“People do not bring their cars here anymore because of the city council officials. We used to wash about 10 cars per person per day, but because of the council it’s very difficult to get so many cars. I used to take home around $20 a day, but now I would be very lucky to take home $10,” Mavimba said.
Mavimba stays in Chitungwiza where he pays $50 in rentals.
The car washers said they charged between $2 and $4 per vehicle, depending on the type and size.
“It is now difficult to even pay rent. I now often pay rent as late as the 10th or even pay it in bits and pieces so that the landlord does not chase me away,” he said.
Tawanda Manyozo, who is also an illegal car washer, said it was now difficult for them and appealed to the council officials to help them.
“Washing of the cars is now by sheer luck because people no longer bring their cars here to be washed,” said Manyozo who operates along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Harare.
“We used to make between $15-$20 a day, but nowadays if you get $2 a day you would have worked really hard. I pay $30 a month for the room I rent with my wife and two children.”
“I think what the council officials should do is at least charge us, say a dollar a day for us to conduct our business than to completely stop our business,” said Manyozo.
“Or they can find us a place to go and wash the cars. We have looked for jobs, but we can’t get any because it’s all about nepotism — who you know. It’s best they let us continue with our work than to ban us.
“What we are doing is better than stealing from people. If we don’t fend for ourselves and get money, we will end up stealing from them when they go home.”
Harare City Council spokesperson Leslie Gwindi could not be reached for comment as his mobile number rang unanswered.
