Government Must Suspend its Decision to Retrench Vendors

                         
The government's ultimatum against vendors is ill-informed, callous and appalling and rekindles the horrific memories of the equally callous 'Operation Murambatsvina' that condemned thousands of families into destitution and homelessness. The move to 'drive away' vendors from their only source of livelihood through the use of the brutal and cold military forces is a clear declaration of war against the poor and unemployed citizens of Zimbabwe by the government and the International Socialist Organization condemns this highly regrettable, insincere and inhumane action.

The issuing of this ultimatum that is ordering vendors to fold their operations and go back home and starve by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo flanked by a member of the Joint Operations Command Brigadier General Anselem Sanyatwa is meant to cow the more than six million vendors operating in urban centres across the country into submission through instilling fear. This planned use of gory gestapo tactics to force vendors to give up their only means of survival is clearly an indication that we have a government that is anti-people, heartless and elitist as it seeks to drive thousands of people into enhanced abject poverty simply as means 'to clean up the city' and return the 'sunshine city' status of Harare. The move fails to acknowledge the realities of de-industrialization, retrenchments, unemployment, and climate change that have over the years transformed Zimbabwe into a 'client vendor state' whose prime economic activity is the trade in imports and the exportation of raw materials with little value.

Vendors have been warned to vacate strategic vending points that attract more customers and work at  'designated vending sites' that are already full and difficult work in as they are deeply  embedded in the ZANU PF patronage system that requires one to have a ZANU PF membership card and proof of being an active member. Vendors are faced with a difficult decision to make, either to fight in defence of their class interests by building a resistance movement against the planned violence by the state or sheepishly submitting to the demands of the ultimatum and starve. There is no other better way of surviving in a fascist system than to build a resistance movement.   The onus is upon the Zimbabwe Informal Sector Organization (ZISO) and the National Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) to lead this heroic class struggle of more than six million vendors against the threat of starvation and in defence of its livelihoods under threat from the callous ZANU PF government.

We acknowledge the commendable role being played by the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe and we stand ready in solidarity with this vibrant union, prepared to fight together with vendors to defend their only source of livelihood. National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) Director Samuel Wadzai has taken a clear, resolute and unwavering position by stating that, "As NAVUZ, our position remains clear and we will communicate the same to our members that they will never be removed from their current vending sites unless alternative and equally profitable vending sites are provided for them." We believe that this is the only way to go for vendors and as the International Socialist Organization we will fight together with vendors to protect the livelihood and survival question that is under threat from the government.

Addressing the issue of vending directly entails addressing the crisis of neoliberalism that is bequeathing unemployment through retrenchment, few job opportunities, trade liberalization and market deregulation. The only solution to the economic crisis besetting Zimbabwe that has pushed many into vending, prostitution and some to migrate and suffer xenophobic attacks is to build a working class political alternative that will hasten industrialization, and use critical national resources such as diamonds and gold to create employment. This process requires the vendors to unite and fight together with formally employed workers. The informal and formal sector workers are all facing the same problems. The flushing out of vendors in the CBD is clearly the retrenchment of informal sector workers which is exactly the same as the retrenchment of formally employed workers at companies like Mbada Diamonds. 

Shinga Mushandi! Shinga!  Qina Msebenzi Qina
Abayanga Siyaphakama – Varombo Tamuka
Not Yet Uhuru !!!