Sugar cane selling in Mufulira

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By Derrick Sinjela published on Monday 11^th July 2011

BUSINESS has become a one major source of income in Zambia which like late Aliya sung knows no aged limit as elderly and youthful citizens compete for a share of the national cake.

With Finance Minister Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda presenting the National budget on Friday, 11^th November 2011, traders are hoping that President Michael Chilufya Sata’s Letter of Intent to parliamentarians will take their collective concerns into consideration.

A casual check on Zambian streets and market places unveils traders starting from senior-old age and children as young as five-year-olds.

A case in point is five-year- old lass, Lenga Bwembya of Butondo Township in Mufulira who sells sugar cane to compliment household income to earn a kwacha or two.

Little Lenga explained that she is always asked by her to go and sell sugar cane till all the merchandise is sold.

“My mother always asks me to sell sugar cane and I am rewarded with a one thousand note.

“Ndesa lyonse mukushisha ifisali kuno kumarket pakutila ba mummy balempela impiya nga napwisha fyonse,” Lenga narrated in the local dialect Bemba which literally translates as: “I come here everyday at the market to sell sugar cane for my mum, so that at the end of the day she gives me some money.” Lenga.

Lenga enjoys selling sugar cane for her mum and indicates that no one can ever steal the merchandise.

“No one can steal from me as I know all the price of each sugar cane”

And Kabwe Mulenga, also selling sugar cane discouraged parents from sending children to trade at the market.

Mulenga noted that it would be difficult to encourage children to concentrate of school and young people grew with a passion to always have money.

Mulenga fears that the love for money might false the unsuspecting children and young people to fall prey to prostitution.

“It is a bad idea to send children to sell any kind of merchandise things as the likelihood of becoming prostitutes is higher among young people exposed to possessing huge amounts of money,” Mulenga advised.