Zimbabwe: New Harare CBD Vendor Operating Hours 6 AM-6 PM

• The Zimbabwean government has reversed its policy, now allowing informal traders to operate within specific hours in Harare's CBD and residential areas.
• Vendors in CBDs are permitted to sell from 6 AM to 6 PM, while those in residential areas can operate from 6 AM to 8 PM.
• This new directive applies across all 92 local authorities and follows resistance to an earlier operation aimed at clearing vendors.
• The informal sector supports 70% to 85% of Zimbabweans due to job shortages, leading to strong vendor resistance against removal.
• 113 by-laws are being modified to align with Zanu PF's Vision 2030, which aims for an upper-middle-income economy.

This significant shift in the Harare CBD vendor operating hours now permits selling activities between 6 AM and 6 PM within all CBDs across the nation's 92 local authorities.

The Zimbabwean government has reversed its earlier policy of completely removing informal traders from Harare's Central Business District (CBD), instead implementing new, specific operating hours for vendors. This significant shift in the Harare CBD vendor operating hours now permits selling activities between 6 AM and 6 PM within all CBDs across the nation's 92 local authorities. For vendors operating in residential communities, including high-density suburbs, the permitted hours extend from 6 AM to 8 PM.

This revised directive comes after an initial, more stringent approach, exemplified by "Operation Chenesa Harare." Launched last Friday by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, this operation involved council officers, supervised by Garwe himself, dismantling vending stalls in Newlands. Despite these efforts, vendors demonstrated considerable resistance, maintaining a visible presence in the CBD, seemingly undeterred by the government's initial pronouncements.

The new regulations were formally announced on Thursday in Harare by Tafadzwa Muguti, the recently appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government. Muguti, who was accompanied by Minister Garwe and Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, indicated that this directive takes immediate effect. This move signals a departure from outright removal towards a more regulated approach to informal trading within the capital and other urban centers.

The prevalence of informal trading in Zimbabwe is deeply rooted in the country's economic landscape, where a severe job shortage compels between 70% and 85% of the population to rely on this sector for survival. Vendors typically sell a diverse range of goods, including fresh vegetables, second-hand clothing, inexpensive Chinese-made electrical items, and shoes imported from Mozambique. This economic dependency has fueled strong resistance among vendors against any attempts to dislodge them, with many citing the nation's challenging economic situation as their primary motivation for continuing to operate.

This stance directly contrasts with previous declarations from city officials. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, for instance, had publicly expressed a firm intention to clear all informal traders from the capital. He famously remarked that "The capital city is not a refugee camp, it is a place of business," in reference to vendors and the increasing number of street dwellers. Mafume further suggested that individuals unable to afford living in Harare should consider relocating to growth points, smaller towns, or even farms, emphasizing that "This country is big." Such statements underscore the tension between urban management goals and the realities of the informal sector.

The recent policy adjustments and the actions of officials like Minister Garwe, Permanent Secretary Muguti, and Mayor Mafume have drawn significant criticism from human rights activists and local residents. This backlash is partly due to past assurances made to vendors; specifically, critics recall Minister Garwe promising protection to informal traders ahead of the 2023 elections. At that time, Garwe had also guaranteed that no government department or council would remove them, a pledge made as the ruling Zanu PF party advocated for the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 (CAA3).

In line with the government's broader economic aspirations, Permanent Secretary Muguti revealed that 113 existing by-laws are currently undergoing modification. These changes are designed to align with Zanu PF's ambitious "Vision 2030," which targets the transformation of Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy. A key metric for this vision is achieving a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of US$4,500. However, current reports indicate Zimbabwe's GNI per capita stands at US$2,660, classifying it as a lower-middle-income economy. The ongoing review of Zimbabwe local government by-laws and the new Tafadzwa Muguti vending directive are thus integral to the state's efforts to regulate the informal sector while pursuing its long-term economic objectives.

Lawyers advising businesses or informal traders in Harare should be aware of the new, specific operating hours (6 AM - 6 PM in CBD, 6 AM - 8 PM in residential areas) for vendors, as this indicates a shift in government enforcement policy from outright removal to regulated operation. This change may necessitate reviewing existing by-laws and advising clients on compliance with these new directives, especially given the mention of 113 by-laws being modified.

Source: Original reporting via New Zimbabwe.