Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Nyasha Chingono in Harare

Living on scraps: the Zimbabwe children who eke out a living from rusty metal

Boys struggle to make a living by delivering scrap metal to a yard in Hopley near Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare
Boys struggle to make a living by delivering scrap metal to a yard in Hopley near Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. Photograph: Nyasha Chingono

The rattling of metal can be heard yards away from the scrapyard. A steady trickle of people struggle in: small children laden with sacks of tins and bits of car engines, and adults with handfuls of jagged objects, unidentifiable beneath the rust.

Some push handcarts as scrapyard attendants take turns to weigh the metal brought in, then hand over a few dirty US dollar notes in return.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.