Vegetable vendors set to lose stock

MAMELLO SEBATANE

Maseru- Following Prime Minister Majoro’s announcement to impose a strict lockdown from midnight today, Basotho street fruit and vegetable vendors today expressed concern over their stock, which is perishable.

Concerns were raised this morning on different social media platforms as a significant number of people urged Basotho to buy from street vendors in order to help finish the stock in hand today.

Speaking to Public Eye, a vendor Thabo Phooko who works at the main bus stop of Maseru said the lockdown is going to cost him and his business a lot.

“The Prime Minister’s decision was very sudden and unexpected. Just yesterday I bought new stock, which usually lasts me three days so if I do not sell all of my stock today then most of it is going to waste and I will have lost a lot,’’ he said.

One `Mamosa Thite added that after the lockdown the situation will have worsened because there will be no capital to start business again.

“We will be home for two weeks, not working but spending the little that we are making today and when it runs out then we would have no choice but to use the capital as well. We feed from hand to mouth; that is how we live so it is important that we come to work every day and make that small income everyday than not working at all,” she said.