Street selling : A high risk activity

Trade is one of the most practiced activities in Benin. But more and more, this activity moves from markets and shops to public squares, roads, sidewalks and plazas.

Firmin KASSAGA

food, cooking tools, appliances and other accessories are, among others, the products offered by these merchants that can be found on the streets of different cities. Street vending is gaining momentum in our cities. In Cotonou, there are many resellers at intersections with traffic lights and in areas reserved for the public. Sidewalks are not left behind. « Ici, we sell better. The markets are already very busy”, lets us understand Elodie in her twenties holding cola nuts in her hands. To believe, this young itinerant trader, selling on the street is more beneficial than settling in a market already crowded with traders offering similar products.

Blessed Mom, as she calls herself, smile says : “I usually buy at traffic lights or on the sidewalks. It's less expensive and I also save time. For product quality, I think it is the same as what is sold in markets and even supermarkets”.

 Caught buying pasta, Jean in his fifties checks the quality of the products to be offered to him. “I am used to checking the expiry date for food products. It must be recognized that most products sold on the sly are either prohibited or counterfeit products., but given the current cost of living, we are forced to move towards the least expensive. We run risks, but the most important now, it’s satisfying his stomach with the little we have”, release the fiftieth anniversary.

Bakary, windshield wiper and mirror retailer says there are “customers who often don’t have time to go to the garage to do that. Here, we sell and change some parts if customer want. We don't take labor money.". He pursues : “we sell better staying here (in traffic lights) than when we are in the shops”.

The risks of such an activity

These street vendors run several risks, the most frequent of which are traffic accidents.. Germain, receipt dealer, anchors of seals and notebooks testifies : "often when a driver parks his vehicle to buy, we are forced to run to him to be the first. In this mad desire to satisfy customers, we sometimes cross without paying attention. And often accidents happen”. “When the lights turn green as we weave between cars, the risk of being hit by a vehicle or a motorcycle is high”. Some claim that there are times when the police come to ask them to leave the premises. Seeing them coming, worried, they start running at the risk of having their goods taken and impounded.

Street vending remains a way for a category of people to find their livelihood. But it must also be recognized that these resellers remain exposed to a certain number of risks.. Despite this, we note a considerable increase in these sales representatives in our arteries and without forgetting the customers who also, becomes considerable.