‘Vendors are Not Criminals’ LEAD
By Loyd Matare
The Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) has slammed the government’s move as heartless and reckless, arguing that without proper alternatives to the high levels of unemployment the country is facing, evictions will only push more people into deeper poverty and desperation.
The clampdown comes after Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe announced that all vendors must obtain valid licences and operate from designated areas—a policy vendors argue is impractical given the severe lack of properly serviced vending zones in most cities.
Responding to the ministry’s directive, LEAD demanded a comprehensive solution for vendors, calling for an immediate halt to evictions, inclusive dialogue, designated vending zones, legal protection, financial support, and public-private partnerships to formalize and grow their businesses—warning that the government’s failure to create jobs had forced people into informal trade in the first place.
Today, thousands of desperate vendors have been facing a ‘brutal’ crackdown following the government’s decree leaving many fearing for their survival in an economy already suffocating under high unemployment and relentless inflation.
In a letter to the ministry of Local Government LEAD SAID most of street vendors, selling fruits, vegetables, and household goods on city pavements is not a choice but a last resort in a country where formal jobs are scarce.
“Vendors are not criminals. They are hardworking citizens who have been forced into the informal sector due to the government’s failure to create sufficient employment opportunities,” read the letter.
“Evictions and harassment without providing viable alternatives only deepen poverty and social instability.”
On the contrary, the government insists that the clean-up is meant to restore order in urban areas, but critics say it is yet another attack on the poor, who have long been abandoned by economic policies that favour the elite.
LEAD also described the operation as a direct assault on the livelihoods of thousands, adding that the government should be supporting informal traders instead of punishing them for trying to survive.
“We urge the government to prioritize solutions that uplift, rather than punish, Zimbabwe’s struggling citizens,” the organization said.
With over 90% of Zimbabweans estimated to be working in the informal sector, the latest crackdown threatens to leave thousands jobless and destitute.
Vendors have also warned that without alternatives, they will be left with no choice but to return to the streets—no matter the risks.
