Critique of Zimbabwe’s Government Actions Regarding Informal Vendors

The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association criticizes the government’s decision to remove vendors, warning that it will heighten economic instability. Kizito Mupunga argues that the failure to provide adequate space for informal workers and reliance on outdated bylaws are overarching issues. He also highlights the need for better locations for vendors and emphasizes the lack of dialogue between the government and informal workers.

The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) has voiced strong opposition to the current government’s decision concerning informal vendors, asserting that it could exacerbate the nation’s challenging economic conditions. Kizito Mupunga, the Acting National President of ZCIEA, emphasized that addressing the removal of vendors without tackling the root economic issues would intensify instability and increase the vulnerability of informal workers.

Mupunga contended that the government’s reasoning is misguided, highlighting that the crux of the problem lies in inadequate provision of spaces for informal workers alongside the reliance on outdated colonial-era regulations. The bylaws in question, which date back to 1937, are ill-suited to contemporary economic realities and the modern constitutional framework of Zimbabwe, impeding growth in the informal sector.

He indicated that the government’s recent decision lacks a viable solution for vendors, who play an essential role in Zimbabwe’s informal economy. Mupunga argued that vendors require accessible locations in central areas akin to those found in malls and supermarkets, rather than being relocated to peripheral sites where there is little customer traffic.

The Acting National President further expressed disappointment in the absence of sincere dialogue between government officials and informal workers. He noted that, despite prior discussions aimed at formalizing the informal economy, the recent directive was enacted without adequate consultation or regard for the needs of street vendors.

In summary, the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association, through its Acting National President Kizito Mupunga, has criticized the government’s approach to managing informal vendors. The arguments presented underscore the need for meaningful dialogue and the establishment of practical solutions that consider the inadequacies of outdated regulations. The call reflects an urgent need to address the deep-seated economic challenges affecting informal workers in Zimbabwe.

Original Source: www.channelafrica.co.za