Eighteen-year-old Castigo Quembo left his village near Manica and sneaked across the border into Zimbabwe on January 2nd. The teenager brought two friends with him to start selling candy and phone cards around Harare. They joined thousands of other young people from Mozambique who cross illegally looking for work. These kids want American dollars because their home country bans using that money. The cash helps them build better lives back home.
Local people call these street sellers mano and they wear bright colored clothes that shine. Most of them work around the capital city but some spread out to other areas. The young vendors walk huge distances every day carrying their goods to different neighborhoods. Six boys often squeeze into one tiny room at hostels because they cannot afford better places. Some mean people take advantage of them and make them work for almost nothing.
Police officers sometimes demand bribes from these kids because they have no legal papers. Many vendors save every penny they can earn to reach bigger goals later. Some want to buy cattle or build houses for their families. Others plan to move to South Africa for permanent jobs. Francisco Machazi sold his goats to get money for starting his business and wants to save one thousand dollars before going home.
The vendors face constant fear of getting caught and sent back across the border. Local police say these young people mostly just block sidewalks and rarely commit serious crimes.
Local people call these street sellers mano and they wear bright colored clothes that shine. Most of them work around the capital city but some spread out to other areas. The young vendors walk huge distances every day carrying their goods to different neighborhoods. Six boys often squeeze into one tiny room at hostels because they cannot afford better places. Some mean people take advantage of them and make them work for almost nothing.
Police officers sometimes demand bribes from these kids because they have no legal papers. Many vendors save every penny they can earn to reach bigger goals later. Some want to buy cattle or build houses for their families. Others plan to move to South Africa for permanent jobs. Francisco Machazi sold his goats to get money for starting his business and wants to save one thousand dollars before going home.
The vendors face constant fear of getting caught and sent back across the border. Local police say these young people mostly just block sidewalks and rarely commit serious crimes.
