Harare – Zimbabwe’s informal traders are bracing for a showdown with the government after being issued a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate the streets. The directive, issued by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, has been met with outrage and resistance, with a Zanu PF-affiliated vendors’ group threatening court action.
However, the move has been widely condemned as insensitive and economically damaging, with critics arguing that it fails to address the underlying issues driving Zimbabweans into informal trading.
Vendors4ED, a Zanu PF affiliate formed to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election bid in the August 2023 elections, has vowed to challenge the directive in court.
“We are filing a lawsuit against the Local Government ministry. It should have given a directive to local authorities to give us proper areas to go and sell our products,” said Samora Chisvo, Vendors4ED national chairperson.
Chisvo added defiantly, “We are not going anywhere. We are remaining on the streets and we will continue supporting the 2030 vision. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.” He also claimed that “President Emmerson Mnangagwa also supports vendors, but at the moment, we need our vendors to come together against this planned operation.”
Samuel Wadzai, director of the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), echoed these sentiments, arguing that Garwe’s directive demonstrated a disconnect between the government and the harsh economic realities facing ordinary Zimbabweans.
“The call to remove the vendors from the streets within a strict 48-hour time frame lacks an understanding of the socio-economic realities faced by many individuals in our communities, particularly those who have been marginalised and left with few alternatives for their livelihood,” Wadzai said.
While exact statistics on the number of vendors across the country are unavailable, estimates suggest the figure runs into millions. The majority of citizens, including those with formal employment, are turning to vending to supplement their incomes as the economic crisis continues unabated.
The Zimbabwean economy has become heavily informalised as retail giants and other companies close shop due to the difficult operating environment, leaving informal traders to fill the void.
Wadzai argued that the government should prioritise providing safe and designated vending spaces before evicting vendors from the streets. “Displacing vendors without providing them with viable alternatives for income will not only disrupt their livelihoods but also exacerbate poverty levels,” he said.
“Instead of a blanket removal plan, government should consider engaging these vendors in dialogue to better understand their circumstances and find mutually beneficial solutions.”
Wadzai also challenged the assumption that illegal vending contributes to crime and health hazards, stating that it ignores the complex socio-economic factors at play.
“Criminal activities can occur in any environment and simply associating them with vendors does a disservice to many who are simply trying to make an honest living,” he said. “A collaborative approach that regards vendors as stakeholders in the community, rather than criminals or a nuisance, is essential in fostering a sustainable urban environment that serves everyone.”
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has also condemned the government’s directive, describing it as “heartless”.
“This reckless move is a stark reminder of the regime’s callous disregard for the welfare of the citizens since time immemorial,” the CCC said in a statement. “The proliferation of vendors across Zimbabwe is a direct result of the regime’s catastrophic policies, which have scared away investors and fuelled rampant corruption.”
The CCC further criticised the loss of over US$1 billion annually through illicit financial flows and the looting of State resources. “Instead of addressing these systemic issues, the regime is punishing the very people who are struggling to survive,” the party said. “We call on the regime to prioritise the vendors welfare and livelihoods. We will continue to advocate for policies that promote economic justice, equality and human dignity.”
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) echoed these concerns, describing the government’s ultimatum as “preposterous” in the absence of a permanent solution to the vending crisis.
“The council must provide alternative places of trading, where there is decency, instead of reactionary policies that are inconsiderate to the highly informal set-up Zimbabwe finds itself in,” said Runesu Dzimiri, ZCTU acting secretary-general.
Dzimiri also criticised the government’s hypocrisy, stating, “What is more hypocritical for the government is that it has been encouraging people to go into ‘self-help’ projects hence declaring them an eyesore now is extremely insensitive.” He further alleged that “In fact most of the vendors are mere workers of chefs and barons who give them wares to sell on the streets.”
Dzimiri raised concerns that the government’s actions may be aimed at appeasing businesses that have been losing profits to vendors. “It is also important to note that some of these people were encouraged to go into vending by political party bigwigs as a vote-buying gimmick.”
The ZCTU expressed fears that the current situation could lead to another “Operation Murambatsvina,” the disastrous 2005 operation that saw mass evictions and the destruction of informal businesses. “The ZCTU is worried that we are heading for another Operation Murambatsvina, that will result in the displacement of people around cities,” Dzimiri said.
This is not the first time the government has attempted to remove informal traders from the streets. A recent World Bank report highlighted the persistent nature of informality and the long-term challenges of reversing it.
“Informality is an extremely persistent phenomenon, such that it can take years to re-formalise the private sector and regain tax collection,” the World Bank said. “While an initial shock can significantly increase the share of the private sector operating in informality, it can take years to bring this share back to the formal sector. In turn, re-formalising the private sector often takes many years to show robust effects on tax collection.”
The memories of Operation Murambatsvina, where the late Robert Mugabe’s regime destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, remain fresh. The current ultimatum has sparked fears of a repeat of this devastating event, leaving informal traders and their families facing an uncertain future.
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