Machinga

For the past few years, machingas have been left to occupy major markets across the country despite complaints from registered traders. In most extreme circumstances, a machinga would lay out assorted merchandise infront^([sic]) of a licensed trader’s shop.

After buying, one has to move from one place to another persuading prospective buyers to take your goods. In some places, the machingas are unwanted. We have many places with the words, ‘hawkers are not allowed in.” On a good day a machinga can sell most of his or her ware, and on a bad day, no sale at all.

“The government has lost a lot of revenue from allowing the machinga to do business anywhere,” said Walter Nguma, a Dar es Salaam-based economist and analyst. “They pay no tax, so the government doesn’t make any money from them. Yet formal shop owners who do contribute are struggling to make enough as the machinga takes their customers.