The Vendor
The arrest of a vendor in Gweru who was selling his wares in the central business district has reopened debate on the constitutionality of the continuous harassment of ordinary citizens who are trying to earn an honest living following government’s failure to create the 2,2 million jobs it promised in its Zimasset election manifesto.
Government seems to be punishing its citizens who are simply trying to put food on their tables, pay exam fees and pay for prepaid electricity. Life is unbearable for many Zimbabweans who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet.
Tonderai Chengeta, a vendor in Gweru was arrested on charges of malicious injury to property and behaviour that is likely to disturb the peace. He has been denied bail and is still detained at Wha Wha prison. Meanwhile the families of these vendors are suffering as the breadwinners remain detained for trying to do their jobs.
The informal sector in Zimbabwe is believed to employ more than 5, 7 million people. According to the same report more than 49% of those eking a living in the informal sector do not have any other sources of income except the informal businesses they run.
Such action by the law enforcement therefore is tantamount to sentencing vendors to death considering that companies are closing down and they do not have any other means of providing for their families.
Law enforcement are blatantly disregarding the constitution that affords citizens a right to life and this entails the right of citizens to work and provide for themselves and their families. Citizens have a right to security and this includes security from vulnerabilities that are caused through unemployment.
However the sitting government seems to be disregarding these rights arguing that the vendors are violating several laws as they go about their business. Vendors have also been accused of causing chaos in the city centre and also using services without paying for them. The vendors also stand accused of not paying taxes to the authorities.This is true but government must prioritise the right to survivals above all other rights.
It is not the duty of the informal traders to chase the government to pay taxes. It is the government’s duty to create an environment and implement systems that allow them to pay the taxes. The government must not punish ordinary citizens for its own inefficiencies.
Vendors claim that they pay rentals to ZANU PF activists who say that they can protect them from the police. Despite paying $10 a day to these activists, municipal police still come to raid and confiscate the wares of these vendors. Someone is profiting from the mysery of these people.
Government needs to solve the issue of vendors once and for all. This will not be achieved by hounding vendors out of the streets through heavy handed tactics but through policy interventions that create sustainable employment for those in the streets.
The starting point is for the government to deliver on its promises to deliver 2,2 million jobs by resuscitating the local factories that have closed shop. Vendors are not on the streets with an ambition of creating chaos and disorder but have been forced into these circumstances by the obtaining economic environment.
