WALVIS BAY – Struggling mothers Katrina Uugwanga, Ritade Shafodino and Wilhelmina Neshungu say life has become an uphill battle to survive everyday at the town of Walvis Bay.
The three women sell bicycles to the community of Walvis Bay to feed their families and make sure they have a roof over their heads.
Uugwanga is 41 years old and has a daughter that is currently studying at the International University of Management. Neshungu has four children of whom two attend school, while the 23-year-old Shafodino cares for her two-year-old son.
The three women run the bicycle business from the premises of the urban constituency offices at Walvis Bay on a daily basis, including some weekends.
During a visit last week, the trio said it’s a struggle at times to sell a single bicycle. “These days business is slow. Sometimes we don’t sell a single bicycle in a week,” Uugwanga explained.
They sell bicycles they buy from the organisation BEN Namibia. “BEN Namibia normally gets the bikes from Britain, Canada and Australia on a large scale and then we buy from them,” Uugwanga said.
BEN Namibia distributes bicycles to strengthen the grassroots response to HIV/AIDS and foster community development. The organisation imports new and second-hand bicycles, spare parts and accessories from overseas partner organisations and refurbishes them through training and employing local people in bicycle mechanics who in return render the services to the communities their operate in.
According to Uugwanga they used to get the bicycles for free when they started in 2009. “However now we are buying the bicycles from BEN Namibia. Sometimes we have to pay N$7 000 for them. This includes shipping as well,” she said.
Uugwanga said they cannot raise their prices for the bicycles as they would lose customers to bigger shops. “We don’t focus on the selling of bicycles only but offer a wide range of services including repairs and selling of parts,” she said.
Each of the women takes about N$1 300 home every month which they say is simply not enough to cover their basic needs.
“You are left with nothing after paying rent and taking care of your children’s needs. We are drinking tablets as well and this also requires a healthy nutritious meal to take the pills,” Uugwanga added.
Uugwanga and Neshungu also started their own cuca-shop to supplement their income.
Uugwanga says they are indeed in need of assistance. “Not necessarily money. We can be assisted with cleaning materials, overalls, spare parts to name a few. We are also calling on the community to assist us by buying bicycles from us. They are strong quality bikes and are really an investment.”
The women can be visited at the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency offices next to the NHE offices in Kuisebmond.