Bernard Mutambudzi

Government recognises the significant role being played by the informal sector and will continue supporting it as it creates employment and sustenance of livelihoods in communities.

Speaking to this publication, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Rudo Chiriga said her ministry was implementing a number of programmes to support the sector.

“Some of the programmes include putting in place a simplified trade regime for small cross border trade," she said.

She said her ministry would continue raising awareness and training on compliance of regulatory requirements such as taxation, business registration and social protection among others.

She added that her ministry has drawn up a compendium of the SMEs and informal sector associations to ensure that no one is left behind. She called upon all SMEs and informal associations to have dialogue with Government.

"The Ministry convened a dialogue between Government, SMEs and Informal Sector Associations to discuss all matters affecting the sector," she said.

She said the dialogue attended by more than 13 SMEs and Informal Sector Associations agreed on the inclusion of the sector in the Tripartite Negotiations Forum.

She added that the establishment of an Informal Sector desk within the Ministry will ensure socio-economic and political inclusion of the sector.

She said Government was simplifying the taxation systems for the Informal Sector.

She added that social protection which suits the circumstances of the sector.