NATIONAL Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) Board Chairperson Sten Zvorwadza has urged government to formalize the informal economy in order to improve and sustain livelihoods in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a National Cross Border and Domestic Traders Association Congress in Chitungwiza on Saturday , Zvorwadza said the country’s economy is in a comatose state, and the informal economy has turned out to be a respite for most unemployed Zimbabweans hence the need to ensure that government recognizes and regularizes the informal economy.
“NAVUZ is committed to engage authorities on regularization and formalization of the economy to ensure that benefits that arise from informal trade can be realised.
“NAVUZ also acknowledged government’s empowerment programmes and would like to take opportunity of this special event to reiterate that meaningful empowerment of citizens should be anchored on developing the informal economy given its immense potential to contribute to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Government need to take a leaf from countries such as India and China that have managed to implement policies aimed at promoting the growth and formalization of the formal economy”, said Zvorwadza.
The Board Chairperson added, vendors who form part of the informal economy and recognized by as traders who have the potential to contribute significantly and improving the livelihoods in the country.
Zvorwadza highlighted that NAVUZ would like to draw attention of the central government to the continued clampdown on informal traders in cities and towns around the country at a time government should be formulating measures to promote the growth of the informal economy which has turned out to be a source of livelihood for many.
He said the continued arrests, assaults and raids on vendors would like to register displeasure over the criminalization of vending.
“To us this is an attack on livelihoods especially at a time unemployment is ballooning due to the closure of industries and a critical lack of Foreign Direct Investments.
“We view clampdowns on vendors as an attack on livelihoods and we would like to challenge the government to pursue all stakeholders approach towards the issue of informal trading so that we find an amicable solution that will enable the country them to realise their potential”, Zvorwadza explained.
Zvorwadza challenged government through relevant ministry to expedite the formalization of the formal economy and ensure that informal traders get the relevant technical and financial support to enable them to realise their potential.
Tarisai Matambo a crossboader said it is high time authorities , central and local government abandon the iron fist approach in dealing with informal traders and we would like to take this opportunity to highlight that we will not tire in our efforts to ensure that informal traders are recognized.
Matambo said this can only be achieved through embracing all stakeholders’ approach that involves interaction between authorities and the informal traders.
