Young Mozambican Hustlers, the “Mano”, Forge New L...

Young Mozambican Hustlers, the “Mano”, Forge New Lives on Harare Streets

Witness Runodada- Zim Now Reporter

On the busy corners of Harare’s streets, a familiar sight has become part of the city’s urban rhythm — young Mozambican men selling airtime, sweets, cigarettes, and bubble gum. Known as “Mano,” a term meaning “elder brother” in Mozambican Portuguese, these street vendors have built a life from scratch in Zimbabwe’s capital.

The nickname "Mano" reflects the respect-driven culture of these young migrants. “Everyone who is older than you, we call them Mano — like ‘mkoma’ in Shona,” explained 19-year-old Emmanuel Jonior, who has been living in Harare for the past four years.

Driven by the hope for a better life, most Mano arrive in Zimbabwe as teenagers. Their journeys often begin with guidance from someone already in Harare — usually a fellow Mozambican who helps them navigate their new environment.

“Those already here are the ones we ask to bring us along,” Jonior said. “Once we learn how to earn money, we also help others from home to come and start hustling.”

Their lifestyle is grounded in resilience, solidarity, and relentless hustle. Many work for months at a time, sleeping in small rented rooms and selling on the streets from morning until late. After four to five months, some return home to visit family, bringing back groceries, cash, or savings.

Jonior is a proud example of this determination. With money earned on the streets of Harare, he has built a three-roomed flat back home and bought livestock — seven sheep and thirteen goats — with plans to purchase a cow soon. Once based in Mbare, he now rents a room in Selukwe for US$60 a month.

“I even managed to buy a bed, a stove, and I send food home,” he shared with a smile.

For 24-year-old Tinashe Muhlanga, the story is similar. Originally from Chifungabeira in Mozambique, Muhlanga arrived in Harare in 2017. By the age of 20, he was married and now has a child. Thanks to his street hustle, he has built a one-room house where his wife lives.

“I go home every four or five months and stay for a week or two depending on my savings,” he said.

However, education remains a barrier for most Mano youths. Muhlanga dropped out early due to poor standards back home. “Even though school is free, there’s no real learning. A teacher might show up today and not return for a week,” he said.

Despite such setbacks, the Mano remain focused on building better lives. Many marry young, choosing to settle down as soon as they feel financially secure. “Once someone knows they can take care of a family, they go for marriage,” said Muhlanga.

While they face the daily grind of life in a foreign city with limited opportunities, the Mano are steadily transforming their futures.

From the bustling streets of Mbare to modest homes on Harare’s outskirts, these young men continue to hustle — not just to survive, but to thrive and give back to the communities they left behind in Mozambique.