Women take lead at Katima Mulilo market

THE KATIMA Mulilo open market is home to about 420 vendors, most of whom are women.

The vendors are engaged in different businesses, ranging from small restaurants, small shops, salons, tailoring shops, vegetable stalls and traditional food stalls, different types of beans, maize and mahangu.

The market was established in 2007, and local community members rent stalls to sell their products.

Gloria Siluka, the manager of the open market, told The Namibian that out of the 420 vendors, 405 are women.

“It is really nice to see how empowered these women are by having their own business, although this market is not only for females,” she said.

“These women feed their families from the little they make, and to witness their passion and commitment towards their business is really astonishing to me,” Siluka added.

“We as women cannot sit at home and depend on our husbands to feed us; some of us are single mothers who need to feed our children,” she said.

She would thus like to encourage all unemployed women to start a business, and not to be discouraged.

“Although you may start small, it will grow into something big with time,” she added.

Siluka told The Namibian that some of the women face challenges because they sell seasonal products like fish. “The women in the market trading with seasonal products like fish are suffering because if they do not harvest fish, they will not have any income, but yet they are committed to their businesses,” she said.

Sonnet Majakube, a trader at the market who sells cooked Zambezi bream, pap and meat, told The Namibian that she is very happy that she is able to provide for herself and her family.

“As a woman, I am proud that I do not depend on anyone to provide for me. I am able to buy food and pay for my children’s school uniforms. It is empowering; I am setting an example for my daughters,” she beamed.

Memory Mumbone, a vendor who sells all kinds of books at her stand, said business is going well as there is a lot of support from parents and schools who are buying books from her.

“I am happy at the rate that my business is growing, and I am proud as a woman that I am making a change in someone’s education and supporting my family as well,” she said.

“I would therefore like to encourage young women to stand up for themselves, and start their own businesses. I know it is not easy, but ask for help, and people will help you start your own business. Whether married or single, you should strive to be a financially independent woman. It is important for your personal growth,” she continued.

Mary Malumo is one of the vendors selling fresh Zambezi bream, and said she is also able to feed her family with her income.

“I cannot sit at home and wait for government to provide me with a job. I’m proud of my business, and I’m able to take care of myself and my family. I therefore encourage our young women to take the initiative and join us in business. They should not just go to bars, and wait for government to provide them with employment,” she added.

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