Two students wrote about haggling at one of Lusaka’s unique craft markets. Run by the Dutch Reformed Church in Lusaka, this market is open on the last Saturday of the month and attracts vendors and craft artists from all over Zambia and neighboring Zimbabwe.
The Market! El Mercado! On Saturday we went to a craft market in Lusaka. The market is open on the last Saturday of the month by the Dutch Reformed Church in Lusaka. It has about 100 vendors and supported by ex-patriots. Going to a any market and haggling was a brand new experience for me since I am very shy. I learned to haggle with people I’d never met before, lowering the price from 120,000 to 70,000 Kwachas! Haggling at the market was a nerve-wracking and empowering at the same time. I spent the rest of the time walking up and down the market multiple times looking for gifts for people and picking up an assortment of knick knacks for myself along the way.
-Domonique
People from all over Zambia and Zimbabwe came to sell anything from bracelets made out of elephant hairs to bowls to pipes to even bow and arrows. The food was great, I got Chinese food. There was a great mix of foods from other cultures such as burgers, fried chicken, fries, and kabobs. When entering the market, I was overwhelmed with amazing smells of food from China, Zambia, and other places.
The market was a great experience: the shy people got to “haggle” and the outgoing people got to understand how to haggle and argue. When walking around the market, I could sense vendors staring at our group. Once I made eye-contact, they would confidently strut up to me to sell their items. What I learning today was the power of the “haggling!” Many of these items were 15,000-180,000 Kwachas (about $3-$40). The rule of “haggling” is to try lowering the price and if they refuse to lower the price say you have to go and then walk away; and then they’ll come running after you with a lower price!
-Tammy