Time to legislate effectively as uncontrolled vend...

Time to legislate effectively as uncontrolled vending leads to chaos

Tavonga Zvinonzwa

When Tambudzai Moyo, 40, lost her job seven years ago following the closure of a company she had served as a secretary for a decade, she decided that it would not be the end of the world.

“When the company I worked for closed in 2015, I had no other choice except this one

“Although there are ups and downs in terms of sales, I can’t complain.

“I entirely rely on vending proceeds,” said Moyo.

Since then, the single mother of four, who plies her trade in Harare’s Central District, and her children have never slept on empty stomachs.

Despite the challenges she faces in her line of work, the beverages vendor has never looked back.

Moyo is one of an estimated over 20 000 street vendors who ply their trade in the capital’s CBD only.

Vendors Initiative for Sustainable Economic Transformation Executive Director, Mr Samuel Wadzai, told Zim Now that faced with low formal employment opportunities, people have turned into vending, which has relatively less barriers.

“The persistent economic challenges have pushed more people into the sector, as some who were formally employed lost their jobs due to retrenchments, company shutdowns or voluntary resignations.

“The sector also has relatively less barriers to entry, with low start-up capital requirements and educational qualifications,” he said.

Low level vendors display their merchandise on street pavements while the better off ones sell from car trunks.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency’s 2022 population and housing census, the country’s population increased by 16.2 percent from 13 061 239 in 2012 to 15 178 979 in 2022.

The 2022 First Quarter Quarterly Labour Force Survey results released by ZimStat revealed that the country has an estimated 9 million working-age population, which is about 59 percent of the total population.

The ZimStat report states that around 3.3 million of the working-age population were employed.

The same survey shows that 88 percent of that number were informally employed, with many being vendors.

It is estimated that the informal sector, of which vending, is one accounts for over 48 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Investigations by Zim Now showed that even those who are formally employed are supplementing their incomes.

One of them is Chamunorwa Murawu.

The father of one sells vegetables along Julius Nyerere Way during the day and mans properties in the Graniteside Industrial area at night.

“My salary is not enough to feed my family that is why I ventured into vending.

“Things are now different from the days I entirely relied on my salary,” he said.

All towns and cities are battling to contain the upsurge in the number of street vendors.

In Chitungwiza, located about 25 kilometers south of Harare, street vending is also prevalent at places like Huruyadzo, Chigovanyika, Unit L, Makoni among other shopping centres.

A mobile vendor, who sells plastic ware around Chitungwiza, said he joined the trade last year in order to put food on his table.

“I leave everything in God’s hands,” said the visibly weary octogenarian, who declined to be named.

When the Zim Now team moved around the CBD late afternoon recently, vendors could be seen shouting and trying to encounter customers for their wares that ranged from wild fruits, vegetables, clothes, illicit brews, stationary and roasted corn among others.

Zim Now team witnessed vendors hurling harsh words at each other over clients with some almost arguments almost degenerating to fist fights.

In central Harare violent clashes over vending space is now a common sight.

Recently, violent fights pitting space barons erupted in Mbare’s Magaba area, claiming the life of one person.

A 34-year-old vendor, Onisimo Mavhingire breathed his last while admitted at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital after sustaining serious injuries from the beatings.

Vending tables and goods were destroyed during the skirmishes.

Esthere Shato, a second-hand clothes trader, is still counting her losses after her stall and goods were burnt during the bloody disturbances.

“I don’t know how I will survive.

“I live on vending but now I don’t have anything to sell,” said Shato

Several arrests have been made in connection with the violent clashes.

Running battles between vendors and ZRP officers and municipal police are not uncommon.

Shop owners who declined to be identified said that vendors are a menace to order as they just colonise pavements and make towns and cities undesirable areas.

“They are noisy, messy and disrupt our businesses. They also stop customers from coming into our shops as they offer cheaper goods. This is unfair as we pay taxes, rates and rentals and cannot compete with them on prices. They also sell smuggled goods. Government must just get them off the pavements. The towns need to go back to the order we used to all know and love,” said a shop owner who sells clothes and other fashion items near First Street in Harare.

Authorities say although they recognise the vital role played by the informal sector, there is no space to accommodate everyone.

“We also have to realise that we cannot all be vendors as we don’t have space to accommodate everyone,” said then Harare City Council’s Acting Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Innocent Ruwende.

“Although Council recognises the important role played by the informal sector, we want that role to be played in an organised and orderly manner.

“Our aim is to have all traders doing business at designated sites, free up pavements for human movement and allow business to operate without hindrance,” said Mr Ruwende.

He added that plans are in place to upgrade existing vending sites and open new ones in various suburbs in order to accommodate the rising number of vendors.

“Council has earmarked some areas in Mufakose, Hatcliffe and Mabvuku for the development of markets while modern facilities will be added to existing markets in order to improve uptake…”

However, Mr Wadzai said reviewing some of the country’s legislation is the way to go.

“There is need for a stand-alone ministry that is directly responsible for the sector.

“Legislation such as the Urban Town Planning Act must be reformed to reflect contribution that the sector makes to the Zimbabwean economy with it accounting for over 48 percent of GDP,” he said.

He added that Zimbabwe should borrow a leaf from other economies.

“The sector should be recognised through an Act of Parliament as is the case in countries like India,” he said.