Turmoil for vendors amid intensified raids

CATHERINE MASOCHA IN GWERU

Informal traders in Gweru face mounting challenges as the police in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion as well as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, intensify crackdown on unregistered businesses.

Among the hardest hit are second-hand clothing vendors, whose livelihoods have been upended by frequent raids.

The DST flea market, a central hub for second-hand clothing in Gweru, has been raided twice in the past few months, leaving many traders in financial turmoil after they were forced to shut down their operations.

“ZIMRA first came to warn us that selling second-hand clothing is illegal,” said a trader who requested anonymity.

“They returned with officials from various ministries and the city council, confiscating our goods during two raids. Many of us had to shut down temporarily, fearing further losses.”

Some vendors have yet to return to the market, leaving stalls vacant.

“We are struggling to survive,” the trader added.

“Authorities should allow us to pay taxes instead of shutting us down. Many of us, including myself—a graduate—turned to informal trading because there are no jobs.

The raids follow the government’s introduction of a presumptive tax last year, designed to formalize small businesses without proper financial records. Critics argue, however, that the enforcement measures are excessively harsh.

In 2015, Zimbabwe banned second-hand clothing imports to protect the local textile industry but later replaced the ban with import taxes in 2017. Importers must now obtain licenses to bring in used clothing.

Samuel Wadzai, Executive Director of the Vendors Initiative for Socio-Economic Transformation (VISET), criticized the raids for their impact on livelihoods.

“These raids could be conducted in a humane way,” he said.

“While some traders may operate illegally, a blanket crackdown destroys the livelihoods of many trying to survive through informal trading.”

Wadzai urged the government to create policies that encourage traders to formalize their businesses. “We need laws that make it easier for vendors to regularize their operations and avoid legal troubles while earning a living.”

ZIMRA, however, referred inquiries to the ZRP, with National Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirming that the operation is ongoing nationwide.

 “Yes, the operation is ongoing. It covers the whole country with a focus on all ports of entry and exit. Our goal is to ensure compliance with customs and excise regulations. We’ve encountered no resistance from traders,” Nyathi said.

The Gweru United Ratepayers Association (GURA) has criticized the local council for allowing illegal operations to proliferate.

“Why would the local authority provide trading spaces for illegal operations? Council is to blame,” questioned GURA Secretary-General Reward Mhuri.

In addition to the ZIMRA raids, informal traders face daily conflicts with Gweru municipal police.

An investigation by Business Times and the Information for Development Trust (IDT) revealed that Gweru City Council enforces outdated 1977 by-laws, which penalize traders for operating in undesignated areas but do not authorize the confiscation of goods.

Despite this, municipal police routinely seize goods, demanding fines of up to US$35 for their return—amounts many traders cannot afford.

Last month, 14 municipal officers were suspended on allegations of corruption.

The ongoing raids and daily challenges faced by informal traders highlight a pressing need for balanced policies that uphold the law while protecting livelihoods.

As tensions continue to rise, stakeholders are calling for a more humane and structured approach to regulating informal trade in Gweru.

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