The government has issued a directive to all local authorities, giving them 48 hours to clear illegal vendors who are accused of contributing to rising crime and unsanitary conditions that threaten public health.
Efforts to remove illegal vendors from central business districts (CBDs) have repeatedly failed in the past, but authorities are now taking a firmer stance.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Wednesday, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe highlighted the risks posed by illegal vending, particularly in areas lacking clean water and proper sanitation.
“Illegal vending worsens unsanitary conditions, as traders operate in spaces without potable water or ablution facilities, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks such as typhoid, dysentery, and cholera. Additionally, waste accumulation has made roads, sanitary lanes, and sidewalks impassable, further endangering public health and safety,” said Garwe.
He also pointed out that some of these vending areas have become hotspots for criminal activities, including theft, robbery, and drug dealing, creating a security threat for both residents and visitors.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who was also present at the briefing, reiterated that vending should only take place in designated areas, primarily around bus terminals.
“Night vending is not permitted, and even daytime vending must follow the laws. People cannot just set up shop anywhere, light fires, throw litter, or block drainage systems,” Mafume said.
Despite past attempts to regulate street vending, authorities acknowledge that economic difficulties have made enforcement challenging. Harare City Council’s health services director, Prosper Chonzi, previously admitted that the struggling economy has made it difficult to control illegal vending.
“The state of the economy is working against us. We have been playing hide and seek with vendors, and it is not working,” Chonzi said last year.
With this latest directive, the government is pushing for immediate action to restore order in urban areas while balancing the economic realities that drive informal trading.
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