In the bustling streets and informal markets of Paz, Pandera, Tchivonde, Castilho, and Estação, the street vendors, known as “zungueiras,” are a constant presence. Their improvised stands, basins, and handcarts loaded with fruits, vegetables, and other goods form their primary source of income. More than informal workers, these women are pillars for their families. They face economic, social, and even security challenges. Stories of women like Fernanda, Violeta, and Rosa highlight the resilience of zungueiras, who, despite the lack of infrastructure, governmental support, and basic resources, manage to sustain their households and nurture dreams for the future.
Being a zungueira is not just a job; it is a survival skill. These women wake up early and travel long distances to purchase goods at larger markets. They endure the sun, rain, and local restrictions to sell their products.
The informal trade offers a degree of freedom but comes with significant insecurity. “If I don’t sell anything today, I won’t be able to feed my child tomorrow,” laments Violeta Nakwamba, who sells fruit on the streets of Menongue. For her, each workday is a test of physical and emotional endurance.
In addition to financial hardships, crackdowns by local authorities complicate the lives of zungueiras. Many risk their lives, often being struck by vehicles or motorcycles as they cross roads to escape having their goods confiscated.
Markets and Public Squares
Markets and public squares are the main trading hubs for zungueiras. For some, like 35-year-old Rosa Natália, these places are far from home. “I started selling as a teenager, helping my mother. Today, with eight children, I’m still here because I have no other choice,” she explains.
Despite the hardships, the streets also foster solidarity. “Here, other zungueiras help me when I need it, and I do the same,” Rosa says, adding that mutual support among zungueiras is vital for facing daily challenges, as this line of work is far from easy.
“I bring my baby with me because I have nowhere else to leave him. It’s hard, but I have no other option. I need to make money because the baby’s father hasn’t supported me since my pregnancy,” Violeta says.
Personal Sacrifices
Zungueiras often sacrifice their dreams and opportunities to support their families. Fernanda Canjala, who only completed the 5th grade, told Jornal de Angola that she wished she could have continued her education. However, financial constraints forced her to work and support her family.
Fernanda strives to ensure a better future for her children, though balancing work and family life is nearly impossible. Her long days start at dawn and end late at night, leaving little time for rest or personal care.
Despite the challenges, zungueiras find strength in one another. Across many streets in Menongue—near bakeries, pharmacies, banks, and health units—they form groups to sell their products.
The Need for Public Policies
Ensuring basic rights, combating restrictions through the expansion of informal markets, providing microcredit and training for business growth, education, and childcare are among the top aspirations of zungueiras.
The stories of women like Fernanda, Violeta, and Rosa highlight the resilience and strength needed not only to sustain their families but also to play a vital role in the local economy.
Despite daily struggles, these three women emphasize the importance of solidarity and the transformative power of well-directed public policies. “Every day is a battle, but also a victory. We hustle for our children and their future,” Rosa concludes.
The Challenge of Local Enforcement
In the municipality of Menongue, enforcement plays a critical role in regulating commercial activities, especially concerning zungueiras. The situation of these workers presents social and economic challenges that demand attention and solutions.
While the enforcement department does not have direct control over markets, it interacts with the economic office to address issues in areas like Paz, Tchivonde, Pandera, Castilho, and Estação. These spaces are intended for organized trade.
According to municipal enforcement officer Débora Maressa Boungou, zungueiras’ resistance to leaving the streets is partly due to neglect and their lack of adherence to awareness campaigns promoted by enforcement. “These campaigns better combat illegality and guide zungueiras to settle in authorized markets,” she explains.
Impacts of Irregular Trade
The most common areas for irregular trade include major roads near Yetu Bank, Betonilha Bakery, the Saúde neighborhood, Tchivonde, and near the Shoprite supermarket. In these areas, vendors disrupt pedestrian and vehicular mobility.
Boungou noted that trading in unauthorized locations violates the contraventions law, which prohibits sales in unregulated areas. This practice endangers the safety of vendors and their children while complicating public movement.
The prolonged exposure of zungueiras to the streets increases their vulnerability, with many single mothers bringing their children to work due to a lack of alternatives. Children, instead of attending school, often join their mothers in trading, jeopardizing their future.
Boungou argued that social support is essential but urged mothers to seek alternatives that prioritize their children’s education and use appropriate trading spaces.
The plight of zungueiras reflects a broader challenge that extends beyond enforcement. “A joint effort with civil society and the zungueiras themselves is necessary to uphold the law and ensure dignified means of subsistence,” Boungou concluded.
Source: Jornal de Angola

