Mary Busu Nyombe, a tea seller in Terekeka market, expressed her concerns on Thursday to The Juba Echo, stating that she is contemplating closing her shop due to the high cost of doing business. Nyombe lamented that the meager earnings she takes home every day cannot even feed her family.
“I have been a trader in Terekeka since 1997. For two years now, I exert efforts to gain, but the economic condition is worsening. Everything in the market is expensive, and there is no support for the business,” Nyombe said.
She further elaborated, “I am struggling to feed my children, and paying school fees is also a problem. There are no work opportunities elsewhere. I have two kids in university, but they have dropped out due to a lack of money.”
Nyombe attributed her troubles to the hike in market fees imposed by local authorities in Terekeka Market. The authorities increased the license fee from 4000 SSP to the current 17000 SSP, which is unaffordable for owners of small businesses like hers.
“Everything is expensive in the market. You find a kilo of sugar increasing every day. If you increase the price of selling tea, you cannot get customers,” Nyombe added.
Nora Paya, who sells vegetables and grain flour in the market, echoed similar sentiments, stating that she is struggling to pay her suppliers on time due to the high cost of food products. She mentioned that she buys her food products from suppliers from neighboring counties and states.
“As women, we have many problems. We need to take our children to school, but there is no money. We are trying, but business is not rewarding. We want our businesses to be supported with soft loans,” Paya expressed.
“I am in business to help myself and my children, but all in vain. This year is very bad. Sometimes you walk home empty-handed. The situation is deteriorating, and it is difficult to pay school fees for children,” she disclosed.
Muzamil Atijani, the Chairperson for the Chamber of Commerce in Terekaka County, highlighted the importance of the newly paved road linking Terekeka to Juba in easing the burden for traders and travelers heading to Terekeka County.
“Before this road was constructed, people did not know Terekeka, and now people, particularly business people, are visiting the area. The journey from Terekeka to Juba used to take 6 hours, but now it is only 45 minutes,” Atijani noted.
He attributed the high cost of doing business to inflation caused by the depreciation of the SSP against the dollar.
Robert Pitia, the Chairperson for Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, addressed the challenges facing business people in Terekeka, emphasizing issues of taxes and the lack of micro-financing for businesses.
“We want to work with concerned institutions to assist people in doing business,” Pitia said, urging authorities in Terekeka County and the Central Equatoria State government to reduce the tax burden on small businesses to ensure their growth and sustainability.