TSHILAMBA – Selling Mirror has turned out to be a fruitful and enjoyable means of survival for Thihanadzwi Mbedzi (31), who has achieved much through the income he has raised from the sales.

Thihanedzwi is currently enrolled for a computer course at Vhembe Further Education Training (Techniven) and only the income from Mirror sales enables him to pay his fees. “Many people would not take this as a job. But to me, this is what I do to earn cash. I only started selling Mirror in March last year and since then, every Friday is a busy but enjoyable day for me…”

Thihanedzwi sells Mirror at Tshilamba Township, north of Thohoyandou. “I sell approximately 200 copies of Mirror each Friday. I rarely get any returns, because I have reliable customers who will not buy their paper from anyone. I know all the people will be waiting for their favourite paper in the government offices at Tshilamba. So, I go from office to office, de-livering the paper. Thereafter, I will go to the local schools to deliver the paper to the teachers. I also have my favourite spot at a T-junction in the township where I sell the paper. I find people waiting for the paper on the spot on Friday mornings, because they will be thirsty for the local news.”

Thihanedzwi says he has 51 reliable customers who collect the paper and pay him at the end of the month. “This helps me to save the money more easily, as I collect it in bulk. Mirror has changed my life for good and since I started selling it, I have never complained of a money shortage like before. The only recipe for success in this industry is proper customer care and good communication skills.”

However, Thihanedzwi never forgets to encourage those who are employed to stand up and do something for themselves. “I was unemployed before I started selling Mirror, but I have created a job for myself. It rests upon one’s shoulders to make ends meet. Time for sleeping is over. The only way to improve our lives, is to work hard.”