Minister Garwe presses ahead with vendors cleansing exercise, says it’s not war but orderliness
By Staff Reporter
THE Government of Zimbabwe has ordered a major crackdown on informal traders, officially banning night vending and the sale of second-hand clothing in all Central Business Districts (CBDs) countrywide.
The directive, announced by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, issued a strict ultimatum for illegal traders to vacate unauthorized spots by Wednesday, September9, 2026.
“This is not a declaration of war against vendors and informal traders, but a desire to bring back orderliness and cleanliness in the City,” Garwe said.
“Every pavement occupied illegally is a pedestrian displaced. Every blocked road is a business disrupted,” he said.
“Order must be maintained, not periodically restored.”
Total prohibition of night vending and the commercial sale of second-hand garments within CBD zones. : Local authorities were given a 48-hour ultimatum to clear illegal traders, culminating in a “zero-tolerance” clean-up operation launch on September 9.
The government cited escalating public health risks, major pedestrian and traffic congestion, widespread littering, and unfair competition for formal retail businesses.
In Harare, the final phase of the Chenesa Harare campaign has seen the deployment of over 300 municipal police officers alongside state police to dismantle illegal stalls and enforce compliance.
The crackdown has sparked significant tension and resistance. Representative bodies like the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) and civil rights groups have urged authorities to reconsider. They argue that the sudden eviction leaves thousands of families without alternative livelihoods in an economy heavily reliant on informal trading.
While some vendors have engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement to protect their merchandise, the government insists that traders must immediately register and move to legally designated council markets.
