By Nigel Pfunde
Harare- The Vendors for Economic Development (Vendors for ED) movement has issued an urgent call for engagement with Local Government Minister Hon Daniel Garwe, warning that the impending September 9 deadline for removing vendors from the Central Business District threatens the livelihoods of millions of Zimbabweans. National Chairperson Cde Samora Chisvo released a statement on behalf of the organisation, expressing deep alarm that the government’s zero-tolerance approach directly contradicts recent empowerment initiatives and risks dismantling an informal sector that currently employs 58.5 percent of the country’s workforce.
”We seek dialogue, not displacement,” Cde Chisvo stated, firmly pushing back against the municipality’s stance.
“We reject the narrative that our presence simply creates disorder. We are the economic lifeblood of the nation.”
This vendors’ outcry follows a troubling pattern of confusion on the ground. Just weeks after beneficiaries received funds through the Presidential Empowerment Scheme to stockpile inventory, they now face sudden eviction. The contradiction has sparked anger within the ruling party’s own support base, with loyalists openly questioning the government’s overarching strategy.
Highlighting the brutal economic reality behind the dispute, Cde Chisvo said the human cost of the proposed clearance.
“Many of us are the sole breadwinners for our families. The opening of the third school term is imminent; we require income to pay school fees, buy uniforms, and cover rentals.”
To prevent immediate catastrophe, the organisation is demanding that the government table a moratorium on the September 9 deadline to allow space for meaningful negotiation. “We are not criminals. We are employers,” he emphasized.
“We are the job creators for the 88 percent of Zimbabweans who find students and themselves outside the formal employment matrix.”
Specifically, the group is requesting designated trading spaces that remain economically viable, explicitly rejecting any relocation to far-flung areas devoid of customer traffic. Cde Chisvo warned of the dire consequences if the deadline proceeds unchecked, stating, “If enforcement leads to the seizure or loss of goods, we will not survive, and the Government’s empowerment narrative will be contradicted.”
This high-stakes standoff shows a growing tension between political influence and public service delivery.
While Minister Garwe has previously insisted on cleaning up urban centres by citing public health hazards, the Vendors for ED leadership firmly argues that formalisation rather than intimidation—is the only sustainable path forward. Calling for a constructive approach, Cde Chisvo urged the Ministry to respect what he termed the “hand that feeds the nation,” concluding,
“We seek formalisation, not intimidation. We seek structured markets, not eviction.”
