Who is Zaita from Midaq Alley and what is their importance?

A filthy recluse, black-on-black, who rents a hole in the wall from the baker Husniya, Zaita earns his living by creating cripples who wish to improve their chances as beggars. Zaita regularly spies on the bakers, enjoys watching "full-bodied" Husniya beat Jaada, and later coyly seduce him. Zaita detests and envies Jaada, and imagines throwing hatchets at him. Scorned for his filthiness and stench, Zaita imagines torturing all his neighbors. When he cripples a customer, Zaita is cunning and vicious. His eyes light up at their screams of pain.