Outcry As Mnangagwa Regime Chases Away Vendors From Streets

Outcry As Mnangagwa Regime Chases Away Vendors From Streets5 August 2025

Outcry As Mnangagwa Regime Chases Away Vendors From Streets

By A Correspondent

HARARE – The government’s sweeping crackdown on street vending and second-hand clothing sales has sparked outrage — not just among affected traders, but also from within the ruling Zanu PF’s own support base On Monday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe declared an immediate ban on the importation and sale of mabhero (second-hand clothes), alongside a blanket prohibition on all forms of street and night vending The announcement came during a meeting with Harare City Councillors at Town House “I want to make it clear that government has banned the importation and selling of second-hand clothing,” Garwe said

“As a result, all street vending and night vending activities are now prohibited with immediate effect.”

He directed city authorities to act quickly, stating, “The City of Harare is directed to work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure there is no further vending on the streets or at night The time to act is now — not tomorrow.”

The sudden directive has ignited backlash from Zanu PF hardliners and online loyalists, with many questioning the logic behind banning vendors soon after they were beneficiaries of a state-sponsored empowerment program “These guys — are they supporting President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa or are they sabotaging him quietly by creating silly confusion that could trigger an uprising?” one post read Critics pointed out the contradiction between the new ban and the Presidential Empowerment Fund recently rolled out to support informal traders aligned with the ruling party under the “Vendors for ED” banner

“Just a few days ago, the Presidential Empowerment Fund was availed to Vendors for ED Now those same beneficiaries, many of whom had stockpiled goods for resale, have just been hit with a ban that stops them from trading — courtesy of Minister Garwe,” the post continued Frustration was summed up in a rhetorical question: “Tirikumboenda kupi chaizvo senyika???” (Where are we really going as a country?)

The enforcement of this ban presents significant challenges, especially in an economy where the informal sector dominates According to ZimStat’s latest economic census, 76 percent of economic activity in Zimbabwe happens informally, and 88 percent of the working population is engaged in informal employment — a vast number of them being street vendors

Despite the widespread disruption the ban is likely to cause, Garwe urged restraint in how it is enforced “There is absolutely no need to be aggressive Authorities should not use force or heavy-handed tactics,” he said For many Zimbabweans, vending is not just a side hustle but a survival mechanism

Second-hand clothing markets have flourished in urban areas, providing low-cost alternatives to expensive retail shops Items like jeans, jackets, and shoes are often sold for as little as US$2, making mabhero stalls immensely popular.

Source: ZimEye