Harare: The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has strongly condemned the government’s directive ordering vendors in Harare to vacate their trading spaces by Wednesday, September 9, 2026, warning that the crackdown could deepen economic hardship and push some informal traders into criminal activities.

In a statement dated September 4, ZCTU Secretary-General Tirivanhu Marimo described the directive by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe as “heavy-handed” and insensitive to thousands of Zimbabweans who have turned to street vending because of limited employment opportunities.

Minister Garwe has argued that vending has severely compromised urban sanitation, blocked public pathways, disrupted formal businesses and created congestion that threatens public safety and health in Harare.

However, ZCTU said the government should address the economic conditions driving people into the informal sector instead of simply removing them from the streets.

“The people who are into street vending are not into it for their liking but are being forced due to the unemployment levels,” the union said.

ZCTU argued that the government should prioritise economic growth and job creation, saying the promised creation of millions of jobs would ultimately reduce dependence on street vending.

The labour body also accused the government of being overly responsive to pressure from formal businesses that have lost customers to informal traders.

According to the World Bank, Zimbabwe’s economy remains largely informal, with four out of every five jobs being informal, a median monthly wage of only $130, and half of the population living below the international poverty line.

Many Zimbabweans continue to leave the country in search of better opportunities.