ZUNDE Press Statement on government ultimatum to vendors

Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) condemns the Zanu-PF government for its planned inhuman treatment of vendors who are trying their best to earn a living in this tent economy that has resulted from Zanu-PF incompetent government. Street vendors are frequently ignored in surveys of jobs, and economic productivity, despite their extensive connections to the formal economy of any country. Street trading is vital to livelihoods of the urban poor, especially women. In several African countries, informal sector income accounts for over 40 percent of the total urban income. By supporting street vendors, cities can foster equitable development and improve the lives of society's most vulnerable populations.

Since 2008 these vendors have been paying protection fees to Zanu-PF through shadowy groups like Chipangano. Campaigning for her ascendency, the First Lady ordered the police to leave them alone but now that she got what she wanted, Zanu-PF feels they don't need these vendors anymore!

Whilst the law needs to be respected, under these circumstances, the government must realise that it is their responsibility to create the necessary conditions for investment and employment creation. The majority of the vendors did not choose vending as a career but are innocent victims of Zanu-PF misrule. The last time it was Gukurahundi when this Zanu-PF government killed more than 20000 people in Matebeleland as chaff they could dispose of, this was followed by Murambatsvina when the same government displaced more than 3000 people which it considered as dirt. Now it's Murambavanhu, and Zanu-PF now wants to throw away more than three million victims of its economic mismanagement.

We urge the vendors to immediately seek protection from the courts.  Vendors in our towns are now the only source of livelihood for the millions of Zimbabweans. This is not just a vending issue but is the result of a fallen ruling party, a clueless government and we cannot blame it all on vendors.

ZUNDE is sensitive to the plight of our suffering people and underpaid workers. When we assume government we will look after our civil servants that they will not seek to supplement their income through vending. We will create jobs so that no one is forced to go into illegal vending. We will encourage SME to develop and assist the informal sector to regularise their operations. We will revive agriculture as a secure commercial alternative thereby proving a viable option to our unemployed people. By giving title deeds to land, these farmers will be able to secure meaningful investment capital to thrive. Soon ZUNDE will unveil its SME policy that will address the plight of vendors.

A ZUNDE government will not unleash the army on vendors but will rather take measures to improve the lives of street vendors, including using public spaces more efficiently and upgrading infrastructure for vendors. We will acknowledge challenges that are particularly acute for female vendors and prioritize solutions that specifically address these challenges. We know that street vendors face the challenges of the law, precarious income, poor work conditions and lack of legal protection. Women are frequently not secure in public spaces due to safety concerns. It is crucial for policymakers to acknowledge and address these challenges.

It is despicable that a senior army officer appears on national television pointing a finger at and threatening the vendors' representatives. The army must recall this soldier for bringing the army into disrepute resulting in possible mistrust between the army and ordinary citizens. ZUNDE insists on a respectable army that is the envy of Zimbabwe citizens. Instead of threatening citizens the security forces must prioritize finding Itai Dzamara who has been unaccounted for too long. We respect and hold the army as a critical institution that does not deserve any abuse from politicians, especially Zanu-PF. We urge the army to maintain its respect by staying out of this.

ZUNDE calls on the government to take full responsibility for the state of the economy and the deplorable living conditions of Zimbabwean's. The blame on sanctions is a sorry excuse. Sanctions did not award multiple farms to Zanu-PF cronies, they did not award mega salaries to Zanu-PF side-kicks nor did they create gamatoxes in its ranks. Sanctions did not give Zanu-PF the freedom to loot Zimbabwe's natural resources. It is our view that while sanctions are unwelcome, Zanu-PF invited them by their actions that have been condemned by all same people in Zimbabwe and internationally.

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