Voices from Mombasa County; Matano Tabwara.

Pwani Tribune’s ‘Voices from…’ series is a County feature of Coast Counties’ residents, in their own words. In this edition of ‘Voices from Mombasa County’, Matano Tabwara, a madafu vendor I found at last year’s Mombasa International Show. He urged show-goers to support his business and other small-scale businesses like his. Here were his thoughts and lamentations (in Kiswahili)…

“Kuja kwetu Show huwa sababu ya kupata wateja wengi kwa pamoja tuuze zaidi. Lakini ndugu kwa kweli nimekuwa hapa siku mbili na biashara haijakuwa nzuri. Tumeuza kama madafu mia mbili tu. Kawaida tukiwa hapo karibu na Coast Bus stock ya madafu elfu huenda na siku tatu au nne. Ukiangalia pale tulipo, tulikuwa na imani wakubwa wakiingia wataanza na hapa kwetu, maana tumejiweka strategic, lakini magari yao yanapitishwa haraka sana. Hakuna ata mmoja aliyesimama hapa kununua madafu. Labda ingekuwa wakati wa campaigns ingekuwa tofauti. Siku ikiisha tutaamua kama tutarudi kumaliza siku zote za Show mpaka Jumapili ama tubaki zetu Coast Bus. Maana kukaa hapa ni maamuzi ya kibiashara. Hatuko hapa kujenga Show, maana hatulipwi na organisers. Tuko hapa kujaribu kuinua biashara hizi siku chache” – Matano Tabwara.

Bwana Matano Tabwara’s words are a constant reminder to all of us to support small businesses whenever there is an opportunity to.