By Tendai Guvamombe
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) has over the years increasingly become a permanent hub for both destitutes and street kids attributed to myriad factors emanating from vicious cycle of poverty, orphanhood lack of parental control among others.
The pleasant view that one sees in broad day light along the streets of the CBD is marked with a different setup to what will be transpiring in the same environment from in beginning of dusk hours till dawn.
If one is to be given an opportunity to take focus on the events which took place during the evening would come to a general conclusion that the Capital City is truly divided into two distinctive worlds namely the broad day light activities and the afterhours events.
It actually makes one shed tears to learn of how these youngsters are earning a living at a tender age at the pacenter of the urban district.
Author a street kid joined street life at the age of eight after abandoned his family in Gweru due to unavailability of food at their home in Mkoba.
Since then he has been earning a living through takings that he generates from washing public vehicles and directing them to the parking lot a daily routine which returns at least five RTGS dollars.
This allows Author to carter for at least three meals a day before getting to find sleep at a nearby underground City toilet where they dine as a group with other peers.
“When I came from Gweru to Harare I joined street life as a burger but with time I become involved into directing and washing vehicles for people who pays me something for the service I render to them, the money is enough, as I am able to buy my three meals for the whole day.”
The manner in which these street kids have increased in number have seen most of them residing in prominent streets like first, Sam Nujoma and Samora Machael Avenue a predicament which has brought more darkness than light to the Harare Central Business District.
Given the uncontrollable no normative circumstance something really needs to be done to bring sanity and order if Harare is to become a City of Choice by 2030.
Comments
About Author
