An Assessment of Challenges faced by Microenterprises in Botswana: A case of Street Food Vendors in Gaborone

Abstract

Street food vending in urban areas of developing countries like Botswana continues to be a source of livelihoods to many (Joseph, 2011).The Government and relevant stakeholders need to understand holistically the challenges faced by street food vendors and develop interventions that will enable street food vendors to survive, grow and compete in a dynamic business environment. This study examined the challenges faced by street food vendors in the selected malls of Gaborone and these are Kagiso, African and Main Mall. Further, the study investigated the importance of street vending as a livelihood strategy and strategies to lessen the challenges faced by street vendors. The data was collected from ninety seven street food vendors from the selected sample of the study using a 51 item questionnaire. Data was analyzed with the use of SPSS (Spatial Package for Social Sciences) 16.0 and later on was tabulated for ease interpretation. The major findings of the study indicated that street food vending is mostly a source of income and a way of creating employment for the urban poor. The study recommends that street food vending needs to be legally recognized. The study would inspire policy makers to come up with specific legislation to promote street food vending business in Botswana.

Deciphering financing models of micro-enterprises in Ruwa, Zimbabwe: Investigating the implications of usury

“…Table 1: The government of Zimbabwe is making efforts to facilitate access to finance for micro-enterprises through establishment of financial institutions such as Small and Medium Development Corporation (SMEDCO), Zimbabwe Women's Microfinance Bank, Empowerbank, Community Development Fund and Women Development Fund. However, results of this study show that some micro-entrepreneurs are not aware or not interested approaching these institutions, this can be a result of the lending conditions which are at times not conducive for micro-entrepreneurs for example in the case of salary based loans there is a requirement for a payslip and majority of microentrepreneurs are the urban poor (Carol & Ongori, 2013), who are not formally employed, also in some cases there is need for collateral and some of the micro entrepreneurs are recent university graduates with nothing to their name except their ideas and educational certificates.…”

“…In this regard microenterprises are businesses with not more than 10 employees, annual sales of not more than $100,000 USD and total assets not exceeding $10,000 USD (Ayyagari, et al, 2007). Furthermore, Carol & Ongori (2013) recognise a micro-enterprise as that business with not more than 6 employees including the owner, this is more or less similar to Schüller & Doubravský (2019) description of a micro-enterprise.…”

Street Vendors Perception of the Effects of Their Activities on Enugu Urban Morphology

“…Recio et al, (2019) stud of transport hubs as hubs for street venders' commercial space as well as mobility highlights the significance of socio-spatial concerns in developing inclusive land-use and transport planning and policy. Anetor (2015) showed that very few studies have attempted to evaluate the worth of street vending, even though those that have were not exclusively focused on this issue: studies like those of Dipeolu et al (2007), Nakisani Carol & Ongori (2013); Bromley (2000); Amoo et al (2012).…”

Informal Sector Workers: Economic Activities and Survival Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Carol & Ongori's research [20] examined the challenges faced by street food sellers in several selected malls in Gaborone, namely Kagiso, Afrika and the main mall. This study investigates the importance of street vending as a livelihood strategy.…”