To her children she is a loving mother, to fellow church members she is a devout Madzimai and to commuter bus drivers she is a phenomenal tout.
Popularly known as ‘Chihera’ by commuter bus drivers who ply the Southerton-Glen Eagles route, Catherine Sithole is a well known tout who bulldozed her way into the male dominated and high energy trade.
Sithole, who was deserted by husband when her children were young was forced to ditch her dressmaking profession as she could not find employment, resorting to touting for survival.
“I was at Employment Center searching for employment, so when l went to buy a drink that’s when l was approached by male touts who wanted my assistance,” said Sithole who is a mother of four. “That was the beginning of my touting business, since then l have never stopped.”
Her energy and persuasive voice coupled with the Apostolic sect garb that she religiously adorns have seen her carve a niche and in the process earning herself a decent daily income.
“A while back l used to earn about US$30 per day,” she narrates. “Now things are a bit low l get anything between $10 and $15 a day.”
For thirteen years as a tout, she says she has never gone to bed in an empty stomach, adding that commuters love to board the buses and private cars she touts for.
She survives on the money she gets from her daily trade.
“Since the day my husband left l have been using the money to take care of my children. They are all grown ups and the youngest is now in form two whilst the eldest is doing form 6.”
Although she has been a tout for more than a decade, Sithole says her journey has never been a walk in the park as she faced harassment and violence from male touts.
This made her to be stronger and fearless.
“I was beaten several times by male touts who were now jealous with the way l was doing my business,” she narrated counting few dollars she had already earned. “Now l’m well connected and am no longer harassed easily.”
Commuter bus drivers favors her professionalism, with some claiming that they find it hard to operate in her absence.
“She is a very good sister of ours,” said one of the commuter drivers. “A lot of women feel comfortable to board our buses when she is on duty. Its hard to operate when she is not available.”
Zimbabwe is among many of the African countries that face perennial transport problems. The problem has seen the emergency of touts who operate at undesignated bus termini which commuters favour because of convenience.
Touting is popular among many unemployed youths who resort to it as an avenue of survival. Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate currently stands at 95%.
For Sithole, her journey as a tout is an inspiration to women who are failing to make ends meet. She encourages them not to sit and beg when they can use their hands to do something for survival.
“There are women who are failing to take care of their children. They should not just seat but do whatever that brings food on the table,” she said.
