ZAMA ZAMA

Zama Zama means ‘Keep Trying” in siSwati, the language of the Swazi people of southern Africa.

It’s the stark mission statement of all of these roadside merchants, who embark on small business ventures with almost no money, very little stock, and no support from any government or business agency.  

No bank manager lends to them: if they need cash to keep afloat they get it from 'informal' lenders, at interest rates that would make an Enron executive blush. There are no taxpayer funded bail-outs if the business does fail, either. And no unemployment insurance.

These ubiquitous roadside Merchants of Africa have nothing, save for a do-or-die (literally) determination to make a living and provide for their families.

They get no Likes on Facebook; they're not 'trending'. They are awarded no medals; no parades. Nobody salutes them with "Thank you for your service.” Their memorials are at best humble concrete markers, inelegantly inscribed. And yet … these are the true heroes of humanity.

But in spite of their many obstacles, and of the awful consequences of failure, hope springs eternal in the human breast. The talk in these shops is invariably optimistic. The welcome is genuine and warm. And the customer service is unsparingly enthusiastic. Zama Zama!

ZAMA ZAMA!