Symbolic statement in Goma: Kahembe merchants, evicted from their sales spaces to make way for urban modernization, express their despair. A hundred merchants gathered in the streets of the city to testify to their precariousness since the eviction of the local market.
These artisans of sale, mostly women, formerly established around the Technical Institute of Goma, find themselves today in total uncertainty. Already chased away from the first temporary site that had been assigned to them, these informal workers are now forced to resume their activities in an itinerant manner, on the roads, in precarious conditions that hinder their daily livelihood.
The situation is getting worse since three different owners claim the plot on which the merchants have been temporarily installed. A land imbroglio that prevents the vendors from finding a stable base to practice their profession in complete peace. It is difficult not to feel empathy for these people who struggle daily to ensure their livelihoods, but are constantly faced with additional obstacles.
It should be noted that the relocation of Kahembe’s merchants was initially conceived as part of a project to modernize the city’s commercial infrastructure, aimed at combating informal trade. However, the establishment of a secure and adequate temporary space seems to be the poor relation of this initiative, leaving these merchants in a situation of economic distress.
Faced with this palpable malaise, the merchants have once again requested the intervention of local authorities, in this case the governor, to find a way out of their daily ordeal. Their message is clear: they need a stable, secure and functional place of sale to be able to exercise their activity in dignified and decent conditions.
This situation, sadly commonplace in many cities around the world where small businesses are often precarious, calls for a deeper reflection on the place and support to be given to informal workers. It is crucial that urban policies take into account the reality of these field traders, who are often invisible to decision-makers, but nevertheless essential to local economic dynamics.
In conclusion, the cry of despair of the merchants of Kahembe in Goma is a poignant reminder of the importance of supporting and accompanying the actors of the informal economy, often unrecognized drivers of the economic dynamism of cities. It is high time to offer them a legitimate and respectful place in our changing societies.