Police Crackdowns on Vendors in Harare Highlight Economic Strain
In Harare, Zimbabwe, municipal police crackdowns on informal vendors are escalating, leading to chaos and financial strain. Critics argue these operations are costly and counterproductive, overshadowing the vital economic role vendors play in the city. As revenue decreases and policing costs soar, many are calling for a reconsideration of policies toward vendors who form the backbone of the local economy.
HARARE, ZIMBABWE — In a dramatic scene that plays out regularly on the streets of Harare, informal vendors are caught off guard by municipal police raids. Officers—in both plain clothes and uniforms—navigate through the crowd silently before striking. When they do, chaos ensues: vendors flee, trampling their goods and desperately grabbing what they can as products are seized and thrown into police trucks. Saul Nhema, a vegetable vendor, captured the frustration of many: “They have no mercy at all. Once they take your stock, you’ll never get it back.”
On the same day Nhema spoke to Global Press Journal, Harare’s municipal police had raided the vendors twice along Park Street in the heart of the city. Just moments into his interview, when officers came around again, Nhema instinctively grabbed his stock and ran. Year after year, local authorities have intensified these crackdowns, often resulting in the destruction of goods and the deployment of significant police presence. The government defends these actions as a necessary enforcement of city bylaws, citing illegal vending and health issues.
However, critics raise eyebrows at the scale of the operations and the heavy financial burden they impose. For instance, 2024’s council revenue was a scant US$3 million, while the cost of policing these crackdowns soared to over US$24 million. That figure represents a staggering eightfold increase over the budget, highlighting the imbalance in spending priorities. The following year, the situation worsened as the council went ahead to form a specialized police unit aimed at further targeting vendors, pushing potential costs up to about twelve times the revenue, projected to drop to US$2 million.
This growing financial dilemma has led to the central government absorbing most of the expenses. Despite occasional requests for interviews, the mayor has remained silent on these pressing issues. Reuben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association, expressed skepticism regarding the rationale behind the special police unit’s expenditures. He suggested that these funds could be better utilized for public infrastructure, like markets and restrooms, to support, rather than oppress, the informal vendors who are crucial to the economy.
Remarkably, the informal sector comprises over 80% of Zimbabwe’s workforce and approximately 72% of its GDP. In various African nations, street vendors are key players, particularly as the country grapples with a biting currency crisis which has led to closures of numerous retail shops. Despite being essential, vendors are continually subjected to evictions justified under the guise of maintaining urban order and economic health.
Akili added that the city’s strategy is counterproductive, predicting that a special police unit intended to clear vendors will eventually create more economic burdens on taxpayers. While there are certain designated vending areas, many are reluctant to utilize them due to high rental fees and insufficient foot traffic, making it difficult to attract customers. On top of that, formal business licenses can cost between US$400 and US$800 annually, a staggering amount in an already struggling economy.
Samuel Wadzai, from the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation, reiterated the need for a balanced approach. He stated unequivocally that the current raids have failed to bring about any real change, even referencing past requests for military involvement in vendor evictions. “Did that result in any significant change in terms of the challenges that we are seeing? I think it’s a big no,” he asserted.
Bribery has become a common protection tactic among vendors facing harassment from authorities. Jesman Guvheya, a mother of five and an informal vendor, explained that officers often demand bribes of US$1 per day. However, multiple police teams can prowl the same area at different times, forcing Guvheya to spend up to US$4 daily even to remain operational.
The precariousness of this arrangement is evident as even paid bribes do not guarantee safety from seizure. “Sometimes we are left with little stock that we will have secured elsewhere,” she said, preparing to flee as she spotted approaching police. Despite managing to evade arrest, her son was not as fortunate—he became one of many who were recently apprehended, requiring her to follow police to pay a bribe for his release.
The situation for informal vendors in Harare is precarious and steeped in complexity. As municipal police intensify crackdowns, the broader economic implications loom large. With a significant portion of the populace relying on this sector, authorities may need to reevaluate their tactics to balance law enforcement and support for livelihoods. Without change, both vendors and the city may continue to experience financial turmoil and social strife.
Original Source: www.thezimbabwean.co
