MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Vendors have decried the criminalization of the informal sector, adding that the local authorities are heavily descending on them.
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) executive director, Samuel Wadzai said this during the International Vendors Day commemoration held in Gweru today.
The Day has been celebrated on November 14 of each year since 2012.
Wadzai said the informal traders are under siege from the tanking economy and are enduring running battles in the hands of municipal police while trying to eke a living.
“Economically, the sector has felt the pinch of austerity measures that have limited disposable incomes of our customers, as they can now only barely afford to purchase necessities.
“The street trader is also under attack from the new phenomenon of ‘runners’ who are new players that have greater economic power and are squeezing profit margins of smaller players.
“We also make an appeal to you (local authorities) to please change the by-laws governing our sector so they may reflect the lived realities of our country’s economy. There is no reason why there continues to be criminalization of the sector that provides the highest number of jobs, where we see mothers having goods taken away and enduring running battles for trying to make a living,” said Wadzai.
He said the informal sector has been crippled by the power outages which saw most parts of the country going for more than 12hours without electricity.
“The prolonged power cuts have meant that the trading times are cut short, owing to safety concerns, as traders often fall victim to robbers hiding under the cover of darkness,” he said.
He implored the local authorities to ensure that municipal police are gender sensitive when discharging duties and adopt zero policy on sexual harassment.
The VISET director “exhorts policymakers to urgently conclude the formalization strategy of our sector that is currently being led by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare”.
“We believe through this strategy, the rights and dignity of informal economy workers can be restored”.
By enacting “policies that ensure the prosperity of the majority and the vulnerable in society, in particular people with disabilities,” said VISET director.
Meanwhile, Gweru Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nyaradzo Madzukura promised that her council will engage the informal traders in an effort to address challenges they are facing in their areas of operations.
