<b>Empirical Study of the Entrepreneurial Resilience of Street Vendors in Lusaka District, Zambia</b>

Abstract

The study assessed the entrepreneurial resilience of street vendors in Lusaka District , Zambia, with a focus on the challenges they face, the innovation they employ, and the support system required to strengthen their resilience within the informal economy. The study was guided by the pragmatism paradigm and informed by Schumpeter's theory of entrepreneurship as well as psychological resilience theory. A mixed-method approach was adopted, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data. The study was guided by three objectives: to determine the challenges affecting entrepreneurial resilience, to assess innovative strategies employed by street vendors, and to explore necessary adjustments in support systems for strengthening resilience. A total of 398 participants were involved, comprising 387 street vendors selected through cluster sampling and 6 key informants drawn from the ministry of local government as well as 5 vendor representatives selected purposely. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides and anlysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings reveal that street vendors demonstrate resilience through innovative strategies such as business diversification, flexible pricing, strategic relocation, and reliance on informal networks. Inferential analysis shows that entrepreneurial resilience is strongly associated with operating during low visibility hours (r=0.68, p=0.001), frequent relocation (r=0.55, p=0.003), and use of portable or mobile vending setups (r=0.47, p=0.010). However, maintaining good relationships with authorities (r=0.12, p=0.220) and community leaders (r=0.08, p=0.350) were not significantly related to resilience. The study further reveals that support systems such as access to microfinance, skill training, mentorship, and provision of safe vending spaces play an important role in strengthening resilience among street vendors. The study concludes that strengthening entrepreneurial resilience requires targeted improvements in financial access, skills development, and secure trading infrastructure, alongside supportive policy interventions that recognize the realities of informal trading in Zambia. The study contributes empirical evidence on adaptive strategies used by street vendors in a challenging urban economy.