Authorities should facilitate informal sector

CHINHOYI – THE 2024 budget of the Municipality of Chinhoyi showed the
introduction of a US$10 fine for vendors selling their goods in undesignated places.
This has sparked off an uproar among the Chinhoyi residents on the Chinhoyi Talk
Community WhatsApp group, where the issue was highlighted and discussed.
Many participants expressed their disapproval of this step by the council, saying the
measure was “too much” and that it will only increase corruption.
“Zvaari mashura nhaiimi, US$10 vanoiziva here? As long as they haven't created
employment, vending hakuna kwainoenda and vakada kuti $10 inobvepi ngavatange
vagadzirisa zvinhu. This will only encourage corruption chete ndopa hangu police
dollar risina receipt ndotengesa hangu. It’s as simple as that here in Zimbabwe,” said
one participant.
Some complained that there are still not enough areas that are designated for
vendors, which means there will be some left using the unauthorised areas in order
for them to earn a living.
“Ten dollars per day is too much even if the council designates places for vendors,
they still will not be enough, mavendors akawanda vakomana hameno kuti every
vendor anowana nzvimbo yake here,” added another participant.
A lot of these comments highlighted that the penalty is a serious obstacle to the
livelihoods of many Chinhoyi residents, who are making a living through vending.
“Ndikaita zviripamutemo vana vanofa ka nenzara kuchipush cart ikoko ndokwatove
kubasa. Kambani dzekutsvaga mabasa hakuna, hapana penalty apa. Kwakazoita
daily penalty ndekupi kutendera munhu kupara mhosva daily?” another participant
said, expressing his disapproval.
A participant spoke of the effects of the rural-urban migration, explaining that it could
be the cause of the increase in informal activities and also advised on how the
council should try and accommodate some of this in order to benefit everyone and
keep the peace between the residents and the municipality.
“Rural-urban migration for economic reasons caught our local authorities planners
unaware, reluctant, incapacitated, or with resistance to change.
“There is the need for urban settlement leaders to completely throw away the
proverbial box. Then think without the box. The new socio-economic development
requires a completely new approach, not renovated approaches that will see
business opportunities in the new circumstances.

“Urban settlement leaders should first not fight the new life and business models by
punitive measures, rather they should facilitate these completely new socio-
economic realities.
“Pirate taxies, vendors, car parking, trucks for instance, should not be viewed as
problems but as the new normal socio-economic activities that must be facilitated,
not restricted.
“Therefore, local authorities need re-orientation to this reality. Whoever should re-
orient local authorities, should give them a simple analogy that is the car Analogy.
“Council mostly use their clash pedal role for easy engagement of development
gears. The brake pedal role must be very minimal and smooth at curves. Accelerator
pedal role should be their major role.
“If local authorities are not oriented to these views, they may simply become the
brake pedals for residents who want to move on and do something with their lives.
That becomes a source of unwanted, unnecessary resistance,” explained another
participant.