Staff Reporter
Informal traders and street vendors across the country have voiced strong opposition to the planned March 31 demonstrations, arguing that such protests will severely impact their already fragile businesses.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Harare Vendors Association (HVA) yesterday, vendors called for alternative means of addressing grievances without harming livelihoods.
“Shutting down businesses through protests will not solve anything. Most of us depend on daily sales to put food on the table. If we cannot work, our families will suffer,” said Miriam Chari, a vegetable vendor in downtown Harare.
The planned March 31 demonstrations are being spearheaded by expelled former Zanu-PF central committee member Blessed Geza.
Vendors argue that such actions often lead to police crackdowns, road closures, and violent clashes, making it impossible for them to conduct their daily business.
“Whenever there are protests, customers stay away. Police usually chase us from our selling points, and sometimes we even lose our goods in the chaos. We want stability so that we can go about our day-to-day activities,” said Tafadzwa Munemo, a second-hand clothing trader at Copacabana market.
HVA chairperson Blessing Nyamukapa echoed the traders’ concerns, urging organisers to consider the impact of demonstrations on informal traders who form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.
“Over 70 percent of Zimbabweans survive through the informal sector. Any disruption to daily business has dire consequences for families already struggling with economic hardships,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s informal sector has grown exponentially over the past two decades due to limited formal employment opportunities.
Vendors selling vegetables, clothing, and electronics in urban centres like Harare, Bulawayo, and Mutare say they cannot afford to lose even a single day’s income.
As the March 31 date approaches, vendors remain resolute in their opposition, calling for solutions that do not disrupt their livelihoods.
Many hope that authorities and protest organisers will find alternative ways to address grievances without affecting small traders who rely on daily sales to survive.
