No Hair Cut Under The Tree In Ftown

Pini Bothoko | Monday February 3, 2014 15:27

Pini Bothoko

Correspondent

FRANCISTOWN: Late last year, it was the illegal traders who were at the receiving end of the no-nonsense Francistown City Council (FCC) by-law enforcement officers.

Now, it is the turn of the barbers and their shacks opposite Ngilichi House to be on the receiving end of the uncompromising FCC personnel.

The barbers were told to demolish the structures and vacate the space by end of January, failing which, the by-law officers would descend. Last Thursday, a day before the deadline, they obeyed the order. The barbers, who are mostly young men, are apprehensive of the future because they are being deprived of their means of livelihood. They are now forced to use umbrellas to serve customers. The barbers foresee loss of business to established salons because customers might not be comfortable getting their hair cut under umbrellas, which have no privacy.

The barbers said that though they knew they were trading illegally, they opted to break the law and build permanent structures because they were dealing with human hair. They said cutting hair in the open is not wise because it can easily be blown away by the wind, polluting the environment.

On Thursday, the young men were removing the materials they used to build shacks as they felt they can use them again elsewhere. 'We were given up to the end of January to have removed the shacks or else they will come and destroy them and dump them at the landfill,' said Titus Tom who has been operating his barbershop for over 10 years. He said he is afraid that soon, he will be left destitute as there would be no business for him.

'I have my own customers who come here every month end for a hair cut. I do not think they will be comfortable with being shaved under an umbrella,' he said.

He said that they were going to use umbrellas as decreed the by-law officers because they do not have a choice. 'We tried to write letters to them complaining about how it will affect our business and explaining to them what we think might be better than us operating under the umbrellas. They did not want to listen as they have never responded to any of our letters,' he said. 'Re tsile go sotlega (We are going to suffer). This (haircutting business) was better than sitting home without a job,' he said in despair.

Another barber, Mooketsi Dinngani, a father of four who hails from Mathangwane said he foresees a struggle in his life after the council's order.

He said that he did not think he would attract customers as he used to. He is confused as to what he will do to feed his family. 'This is the only job I know. I have been doing it for many years. I am very stressed. The council could have come up with a better solution. Today, I have used so much money hiring a car to send my equipment back home,' said Dinngani.

Since December, the FCC has been clamping down hard on illegal traders in an exercise that has caused agony to hawkers, artisans and petty traders. FCC clerk, Leboile Israel explained that all vendors, hawkers or any person in the informal trading business should abide by the by-law rules and regulations or else their merchandise will be destroyed.

'We want to keep the city clean and we will continue with this operation until we are satisfied. This law applies to everybody in the informal sector. Those who will be caught operating without permits will be prohibited from trading,' said Israel.

He stressed that traders should get licences and should not build permanent structures. They should keep their working environment clean at all times and take their merchandise back home every day at the end of business.

Now, it is the turn of the barbers and their shacks opposite Ngilichi House to be on the receiving end of the uncompromising FCC personnel. The barbers were told to demolish the structures and vacate the space by end of January, failing which, the by-law officers would descend. Last Thursday, a day before the deadline, they obeyed the order. The barbers, who are mostly young men, are apprehensive of the future because they are being deprived of their means of livelihood.

They are now forced to use umbrellas to serve customers. The barbers foresee loss of business to established salons because customers might not be comfortable getting their hair cut under umbrellas, which have no privacy.The barbers said that though they knew they were trading illegally, they opted to break the law and build permanent structures because they were dealing with human hair. They said cutting hair in the open is not wise because it can easily be blown away by the wind, polluting the environment.On Thursday, the young men were removing the materials they used to build shacks as they felt they can use them again elsewhere.

'We were given up to the end of January to have removed the shacks or else they will come and destroy them and dump them at the landfill,' said Titus Tom who has been operating his barbershop for over 10 years. He said he is afraid that soon, he will be left destitute as there would be no business for him.'I have my own customers who come here every month end for a hair cut. I do not think they will be comfortable with being shaved under an umbrella,' he said.He said that they were going to use umbrellas as decreed the by-law officers because they do not have a choice.

'We tried to write letters to them complaining about how it will affect our business and explaining to them what we think might be better than us operating under the umbrellas. They did not want to listen as they have never responded to any of our letters,' he said. 'Re tsile go sotlega (We are going to suffer). This (haircutting business) was better than sitting home without a job,' he said in despair.Another barber, Mooketsi Dinngani, a father of four who hails from Mathangwane said he foresees a struggle in his life after the council's order.He said that he did not think he would attract customers as he used to. He is confused as to what he will do to feed his family. 'This is the only job I know. I have been doing it for many years. I am very stressed. The council could have come up with a better solution. Today, I have used so much money hiring a car to send my equipment back home,' said Dinngani. Since December, the FCC has been clamping down hard on illegal traders in an exercise that has caused agony to hawkers, artisans and petty traders.

FCC clerk, Leboile Israel explained that all vendors, hawkers or any person in the informal trading business should abide by the by-law rules and regulations or else their merchandise will be destroyed. 'We want to keep the city clean and we will continue with this operation until we are satisfied. This law applies to everybody in the informal sector. Those who will be caught operating without permits will be prohibited from trading,' said Israel. He stressed that traders should get licences and should not build permanent structures. They should keep their working environment clean at all times and take their merchandise back home every day at the end of business.