Municipal police vehicle knocks down pregnant vendor

The struggle for survival among Zimbabwe's informal traders has once again come into focus after a pregnant vendor in Gweru was seriously injured during an operation by municipal authorities.

Pauline Njanji (39), who is eight months pregnant, is currently hospitalised after being struck by a vehicle belonging to Gweru City Council during a raid targeting vendors operating outside designated areas.

According to Njanji, the incident occurred last week while she was selling potatoes. She said municipal police officers confiscated her goods, prompting her to try to retrieve them.

"I am a vendor and I was selling potatoes. Municipal Police arrived at my selling point and took away a bucketful of potatoes. I tried to retrieve the bucket but a municipal police officer at the back of the car held me by the hand and I was dragged as the car moved. I was struck by the rear wheel of the car," she said.

The incident reportedly resulted in severe injuries, including degloving trauma, a serious condition involving the tearing away of skin and underlying tissue.

Vimbai Chigwaramuse, spokesperson for the city council, confirmed the incident but said it occurred during an operation to remove vendors from undesignated trading areas.

She attributed the situation to resistance from informal traders during enforcement efforts.

"We continue to encourage informal traders to operate only in designated areas to avoid the ongoing cat-and-mouse situation between the council and traders," she said.

Njanji acknowledged that the local authority has assisted with some of her medical expenses following the incident.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between informal traders and municipal authorities across Zimbabwe, where vendors often face evictions, confiscation of goods, and confrontations with enforcement officers.

For many, vending remains a primary source of livelihood amid limited formal employment opportunities, even as authorities seek to regulate urban trading spaces.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, during enforcement operations, as debates continue over how best to balance regulation with protection of livelihoods.