By 
Zimbabwe is a country where the majority of its citizens are grappling with the harsh realities of extreme poverty, unemployment, and economic collapse. The government’s decision to ban vending is not just ill-advised, it is a catastrophic blow to the already fragile livelihoods of millions.
Minister of local government Daniel Garwe during a press conference outlined measures to enforce the removal of vendors from CBDs adding that the are perpetuating unsanitary conditions and destroying infrastructure, causing unfair competition for formal businesses.
By Gamuchirai Mapako
“ The accumulation of waste from these vendors has rendered some roads, sidewalks impassable… these vendors have got a tendency of hiding their waste in our drains which creating serious problems that when its raining, our road become flooded”, said minister Garwe.
However, vendors cannot be blamed completely as the functionality of these drains also depends on proper maintenance. This therefore begs the question, are these drains being properly maintained.
With around 49% of the population living in extreme poverty, about 88% unemployed, and a currency that has become virtually worthless, vending has become the lifeline for more than half of Zimbabweans. This ban is far from being a solution to the country’s economic woes, it is a cruel and tone-deaf move that exposes the government’s disconnect from the plight of its people.
Vending is not just a means of survival for Zimbabweans but rather the backbone of the informal economy, which has become the de facto economy in a country where formal employment is a distant dream for most.
The streets of Harare, Bulawayo, and other cities are overflowing with vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables to second-hand clothes and electronics. These vendors are not criminals, they are mothers, fathers, and young people trying to eke out a living in a country that has failed them.
For many, vending is the only way to put food on the table, pay school fees, and access basic healthcare. The informal sector has become a refuge for those who have been abandoned by a collapsing formal economy. Companies are going insolvent daily, retrenchments are at an all-time high, and even blue-chip companies are struggling to stay afloat. The recent OK empty shelves and closure of some of its branches in the country is clear evidence.
In this context, vending is not a choice, it is a necessity.
Some critics have argued that the government’s decision to ban vending is steeped in hypocrisy adding that while it claims to be acting in the interest of “order” and “urban cleanliness,” the reality is that this move is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress the informal sector, which the government has failed to regulate or support.
During pervious interviews in Bulawayo for examples, Netizens are of the notion that this crusade is misguided. People have taken to social media to point out that instead of addressing the root causes of vending unemployment, poverty, and economic collapse the government has chosen to criminalize the very people who are keeping the economy afloat.
This hypocrisy is further underscored by the government’s failure to address the rampant corruption and looting that have become synonymous with Zimbabwe’s political elite. According to reports, US$2.2 billion is lost annually to looting by political elites, while dysfunctional municipalities pay executives as much as US$30,000 a month for zero service delivery while the country sinks in potholes.
The wealth gap in Zimbabwe is record-breaking, with those at the top enriching themselves through dodgy tenders and corrupt commerce, while the majority of the population struggles to survive.
In this context, the ban on vending is not just an economic misstep. It has been deemed by most as a moral failing and a reflection of a government that is more concerned with maintaining the illusion of control than with addressing the real issues facing its people.
This ban will also have a ripple effect on the broader economy. Vendors are not just sellers, they are also buyers. They purchase goods from wholesalers, pay for transportation, and contribute to the local economy in countless ways. By shutting down the sector, the government is not just harming vendors but many businesses and individuals. It will exacerbate the already dire unemployment crisis, with most of the population unemployed, the informal sector has become a critical safety net.
By criminalizing vending, the government is effectively shutting down one of the few remaining avenues for employment, leaving millions with no means of supporting themselves or their families.
This also comes after the recent attempts to regulate the informal sector by obligating them to use point of service machines.
Is this decision a reflection of a government that is out of touch with the realities of its citizens and more concerned with maintaining the status quo than with addressing the deep-seated issues that have plunged the country into crisis. Or are they making the right decision?
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