The onset of the rainy season is taking a toll on market women who trade at night in the Central Business District.
These hardworking women, some with young children, sleep on hard concrete surfaces to access affordable farm produce, but the rains are making their lives even more challenging.
A vegetable trader, who sleeps outside with her seven-month-old baby, speaking to ChannelOne News explained that the high cost of transportation, traffic, and limited access to vegetables during the day force them to trade at night.
“We stay in the rains but in my case, I have a seven-month-old baby, but we endure the rains. We sell with retailers. They come to the market very early to buy from us. Selling at night helps us increase our sales. That’s why we sleep here. We are compelled to sell at night because business is slow now.”’
Other traders echoed similar concerns, citing transportation costs as a major reason they sleep outside during the week and only return home on weekends to save what little they earn.
The market women are appealing to the government to implement programmes that address their economic vulnerabilities and provide relief from weather-related challenges.
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spams, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital