Perception of Stakeholders on Street Vending Businesses in Tanzania: A Case Study of Dodoma City

Abstract

The livelihood of street vendors has drawn attention not only among street vendors themselves but also among both state and non state actors locally and internationally. Unboubtly, this attention is a result of unprecedented increasing level of unemployment which is highly pronounced in developing countries including Tanzania. This study confided in exploringperception of stakeholders on street vending businesses in Dodoma City around Central Business District in places like Nyerere square, Sabasaba, Majengo and One-way. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative techniques within which quantitative aspect employed probability sampling while qualitative aspect employed non probability sampling. Data were collected using different methods namely survey, interviews, and observations coupled with documentary review. The data from surveys were analyzed through computer software SPSS and descriptive statistics were used in analysing data. The SPSS used to analyse data and provide frequencies, percentages and numbers while the descriptive statistics used to analyse data qualitatively. A total of 384 respondents were involved in the study.Results indicate that majority of working population in the study area find their destination in SVB and thus illustrates street vendors have originated from different activities prior SVB. This imply that majority of street vendors belonging to young age are not engaging in farming because only 3% of street vendors in the study area said they have been engaging in farming activities prior street vending, the rest of respondents have been engaging in nonfarm activities. Some street vendors have been mobile, hawking around clock selling their products, at some point they decided to shift to a particular commercial site and occupy space. This is the case for 155 respondent’s equivalent to 40%, when they were asked about their prior activity they said they were hawking in street before becoming stationed. The results in this study show that 166 respondents equivalent to 43% of the sample were school prior joining street vending business. In real life situation of high rate of unemployment it is highly likely to find youths considering street vending as viable option to earn income to sustain their livelihood. The limited chance to find formal employment after schooling is the breeding grounds for street vending businesses. When looking at pattern of business venture particularly among youth in the study area, one can find that proportion of youth have not been in agriculture prior SVBs on other hand, after schooling, youths are likely to join SVBs than joining farming activities.The major challenges faced street vendors werepoor enforcement of the policies, lack of enough business space, inadequate number of license and permits, hostile legislations, plus inadequate licensing systems, Lack of supportive vending environment, lack of clarity in laws and policies, lack of relevant business skills and limited participation of the vendors in both policy and political decision-making process.The study recommended that there is a need for rational mainstreaming SVBs in policy, laws and by laws. Curbing the street vending vulnerability require halt of ad hoc and emergence-style of addressing street vendors’ vulnerability. This study argues it is high time for street vendors be supported to establish strong organization for the purpose of effective advocacy and effective representation of street vendors without compromising urban land space use standards.