Street vending motherhood: Implications on childcare in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

• Street vending constitutes an important livelihood strategy for poor women in Zimbabwe. • Vending mothers are circumstantially forced to engage in concurrent street vending and child care activities. • Concurrent street vending and childcare undermines the quality of care given to children. • Vending mothers are aware that concurrent street vending undercuts the care given to their children. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of street vending mothers on the psychosocial implications of concurrent street vending and childcare activities in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study was conceptualised around a central research question stated as: What are the psychosocial implications of concurrent street vending and childcare to children who accompany their mothers as they conduct street vending activities? The study used a sample of fifteen vending mothers, nine of whom participated in in-depth interviews while another six took part in a focus group discussion. Findings revealed that street vending mothers generally had negative perceptions regarding concurrent childcare and street vending activities. Indications were that concurrent street vending and childcare activities were concomitant with poor nurturance of children; elevated children’s vulnerability to road traffic accidents, child trafficking and exposure to diseases. It was also revealed that concurrent street vending and childcare had an effect of prematurely socialising children to the love for money. The article recommends that the government ought to establish child drop-in centres where vending mothers can drop and collect their children after finishing their work. The study also advocate for legislative and policy reforms aimed at supporting vending as an important economic function and livelihood strategy in Zimbabwe.