Garwe defends directive | Business Times

Samuel Njinga in Masvingo

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, has defended his controversial 48-hour ultimatum for the removal of night vendors, insisting the directive was never meant to target daytime traders. The move, aimed at curbing night vending due to health and security concerns, has triggered widespread protests from street vendors, local communities, and civil society groups.

Garwe reiterated that the government’s stance was clear from the start: the directive applied strictly to night vendors. “We have never stopped those who trade during the day,” he said. “Our focus was on night vendors. Unfortunately, some local authorities have been mischievous, targeting daylight vendors, which was never our intention.”

The Minister further clarified that the government seeks to establish designated selling areas for both day and night vendors. He expressed concern over the health and infrastructural risks posed by night vending, arguing that it contributes to urban decay and security threats. “Vendors who operate at night do not pay rent or taxes,” Garwe said. “They are also responsible for blocking drainage systems by hiding their goods in drains.”

Despite Garwe’s defense, the directive has sparked violent clashes between vendors and local authorities enforcing eviction orders. In Masvingo, tensions boiled over on Saturday, leaving several municipal officers injured. In Mutare, a viral video captured a brawl between vendors and municipal police, further fueling public outrage.

Human rights organizations, including the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), have condemned the evictions, urging the government to provide viable alternatives for displaced vendors. Speaking from the Netherlands, ZHRC Chairperson Fungayi Jessie Majome stressed the need for policies that balance enforcement with economic realities. “While the government removes vendors, it has a duty to create an environment where people can earn a living,” Majome said. “It must ensure that economic rights are protected.”

Vendors remain a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s informal economy, many earning between $15 and $30 daily—often their sole source of income in a country where the poverty datum line hovers around $600 per month. Economists argue that street vending not only sustains livelihoods but also reduces crime by providing legitimate economic opportunities.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has offered a mixed response to Garwe’s directive. Secretary General Kenias Shamuyarira acknowledged the need for formalizing the informal sector but criticized the government’s failure to provide alternative trading spaces. “The directive is good in principle but deceptive in execution,” Shamuyarira said. “Vendors are being told to leave without a structured, conducive environment to operate in. Formalization should come with solutions, not just ultimatums.”

Religious leaders have also weighed in. United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Emmanuel Makandiwa previously questioned the logic of evicting vendors without addressing poverty and unemployment. In a viral sermon, he warned that removing vendors without solutions only worsens economic hardships, a sentiment echoed by many Zimbabweans.

While the government maintains its stance, the ongoing backlash highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach. Without clear alternatives, enforcement alone is unlikely to resolve the deep-seated economic challenges driving informal trade. A collaborative solution involving vendors, local authorities, and policymakers may be the only way forward.