Harare Vendors Defy Ban, Continue Night Trading of Second-Hand Clothes

Despite a government directive issued two weeks ago, street vendors in Harare have refused to vacate prime spots—continuing to sell imported second-hand clothing well into the night, especially after municipal officers leave the streets.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe had officially prohibited both the import and street sale of used clothes, alongside a ban on nighttime vending. However, many vendors, citing worsening economic conditions, remain defiant. As one trader told NewZimbabwe.com, “We’re unemployed and need income to survive. Staying home without basic needs like food isn’t an option.”

Another vendor, Rudo Murotsi from Mufakose, echoed this sentiment, and Glen View graduate Leroy Kufa expressed his frustration after years of joblessness, saying: “How else are we supposed to survive?”

At a recent Local Authorities workshop, Garwe reiterated the ban, ordering councils nationwide to clear cities of street and night vendors by December. He emphasized the aim of “clean, orderly cities,” urging officials to act decisively while preserving public order.

Garwe criticized nighttime vending as a cover for illicit activities, claiming that drug use and crime accompany late-night trading. He questioned the legitimacy of shopping at midnight, suggesting it harms urban life and must be curtailed.

He stated the ban aligns with directives from the presidency and follows legal instruments from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Garwe also argued that second-hand clothing—from importing to vending—undermines Zimbabwe’s cotton and textile industries and that Zimbabwe should not rely on used apparel.

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Source- NewZimbabwe