MASERU – Two cobblers say repairing shoes has provided them with a steady source of income for many years while also helping them support their families.

In an interview with the agency on Sunday, Mr. Tsotang Makoae, a local cobbler, said he has been repairing shoes since 1994, turning a simple skill into a lifelong business.

Mr. Makoae explained that he never attended any formal training to learn shoe repair instead, he began by fixing his own shoes, which later inspired him to start repairing shoes for other people in his community.

“I started by repairing my own shoes. After that, people began bringing their shoes to me, and that is how the business started,” he said.

He described shoe repair as a talent, noting that it usually takes him about five minutes to repair a pair of shoes.

Despite operating the business for many years, Mr. Makoae said he still faces some challenges. One of the main difficulties, he said, is that some customers expect their shoes to be repaired immediately even when there are other customers who arrived earlier.

“Sometimes customers want their shoes to be repaired first even when there are many people waiting before them,” he said.

However, he said the business has remained stable over the years and continues to provide him with a reliable income adding that the work helped him raise his children and pay their school fees.

He encouraged young people to consider starting similar small businesses, saying they can help them become independent and support their families.

“I managed to raise my children and pay their school fees through this work,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr. Makoae said he hopes to open a school where he can teach young people and others the skills of repairing shoes so they can also earn a living.

Meanwhile, another cobbler, Mr. Motlalekhotso Mashapha, said he joined the shoe repair business in 2014 after being taught by someone he knew who was already a cobbler.

Mr. Mashapha said it also takes him about five minutes to repair a pair of shoes and noted that the business helps him earn a living.

However, he said one of the challenges he faces is that some customers delay paying for the services even after their shoes have been repaired.

He urged young people to consider starting shoe repair businesses as a way to address unemployment, adding that the trade can be profitable for those willing to work hard.