Friendly business

Bridge connecting the markets in Lilongwe, Malawi

Wyson Titus is a good businessman. Walking towards Old Town in Lilongwe, Wyson said hello and started strolling along side of me. We chatted a bit, about where I’m from and where he was from, and I learned that he was an “artist” who sold postcards mainly to tourists. He grew up around Blantyre but came to Lilongwe about four years ago for better economic opportunities (interesting in that Blantyre is known as the economic capital of Malawi, while Lilongwe is the political capital). Anyways, he finished secondary school in Blantyre, then got a job as a petrol station attendant. Now, he earns about the same amount or a little more selling postcards in the city, and is able to send a little money home to his brother who is taking care of their sister’s three orphaned children. We kept chatting as we strolled along the road, and met up with two peace corps volunteers from Namibia who were looking for a bus to Mzuzu. We walked over the main bridge crossing the river and up the hill past the large mosque, where several times a day, even over the bustle of the city, I hear the serene, humming music of the call to prayer. It is serene and beautiful and calming. After seeing off the PCVs he showed me where the buses to Blantyre left from and what a fair price would be (800 kwacha = $5.50), as I told him I’d be heading down to Blantyre next week. Then he took me in the market and we winded through the narrow alleys between stall after stall of spare automotive parts, tools, nuts, and bolts, then rounded a corner and were suddenly surrounded by stalls of fresh fish, meat, vegetables and ground nuts. We exited the maze through the clothing and music section and emerged back on the main street of town. We continued walking and chatting, and went to the other market in town. The man-made bridges seen connecting the two sides of the market cost 10 kwacha to cross… “everyone finds a way to make a little money” he told me. After about two hours of walking and talking, he asked me to look at his postcards. At this point, I was happy to buy a couple. And even after the sale, we kept walking and I called him out on his good business model. Most of the other hawkers selling postcards, paintings, carvings, and other curios are very forward and although friendly, still a bit aggressive. He just laughed, and had clearly figured out a way to make a bit of money himself… not just selling postcards, but also by being friendly and taking the time to show us around town.

pamoja.