Why Are Zimbabwe Police Chasing Off Some of the Economy’s Biggest Players?
Harare, Zimbabwe, sees municipal police significantly intensifying crackdowns on informal vendors, often resulting in chaos and disruption. Critics highlight the excessive costs of policing, which exceed council revenue. Informal vendors play a crucial role in the economy, yet face constant threats and demands for bribes. Experts call for a reconsideration of the strategies used against these vital economic players, advocating for infrastructure support and solutions instead of suppression.
In Harare, Zimbabwe, municipal police are intensifying their efforts against informal vendors, often catching them by surprise. Vendors typically have little warning before police, some in traditional uniforms and others in plain clothes, arrive and dismantle their stalls. This results in chaos as vendors try, often unsuccessfully, to salvage their goods during these sudden raids. An informal vendor named Saul Nhema recounted his experience, saying, “They have no mercy at all. Once they take your stock, you’ll never get it back.”
Recently, police raided a group of informal vendors on Park Street in the city’s business district – an attack that had already occurred twice that day alone. As reporters spoke with Nhema, a new raid began, forcing him to flee in the middle of the conversation. The Harare City Council has been relentless in these crackdowns, often justifying their actions by citing the need to uphold city bylaws, health concerns, and the issue of littering.
Yet, the methods employed by the council have drawn significant criticism. Observers point to the enormous financial resources directed at policing, particularly when the council’s revenue remains low. In 2024, the council’s revenue was just $3 million, while policing costs for crackdowns skyrocketed to $24 million. In a bid to further control vending activities, the council introduced a specialized police unit in 2025, which is expected to escalate expenditures even further as their revenue declines.
The central government is forced to absorb much of the financial burden as the city council struggles to balance its budget. Informal vendors are essential for Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing approximately 72% to the GDP and supporting over 80% of the population. Vendors like Nhema and fellow vendor Zvikomborero Guvheya claim this vital sector is constantly under threat from municipal raids and demands for bribes.
Attempts to engage with local government officials have gone unanswered. Over at the Combined Harare Residents Association, director Reuben Akili argued that the additional costs of a special police unit are tough to justify. “If we examine the funds allocated for enforcement covering salaries, fuel, and operational costs, those resources could have been redirected toward rehabilitating markets or public restrooms in the city,” Akili explained.
Despite the challenges, informal vendors continue to thrive, offering essential goods and services, particularly since many formal retail shops have closed due to economic instability. Unfortunately, they face a daily battle against harsh regulations, high leasing costs for designated spaces, and the ongoing threat of eviction.
Samuel Wadzai, director of the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation, noted that raids are an ineffective strategy against this increasingly vital population. Raids have failed to bring about significant changes, with Wadzai commenting, “Did that result in any significant change in terms of the challenges that we are seeing? I think it’s a big no.”
Sometimes, vendors resort to bribing police officers, often to avoid eviction while trying to peddle their wares. Jesman Guvheya shared her experience, revealing that officers might demand up to a dollar daily from each vendor to ensure their stalls remain undisturbed. However, as multiple police groups operate throughout the day, vendors may find themselves paying several dollars just to evade seizure.
The pressure of potential arrest remains ever-present. Jesman recounted an incident where police confiscated her stock, and in an unfortunate turn, her son was arrested during a raid, forcing her to follow the police truck to pay a bribe for his release. Vendors like her live on the edge, constantly weighing risks in a challenging and often unforgiving economic landscape.
The situation in Harare underscores a troubling dynamic between city authorities and informal vendors who form a crucial segment of Zimbabwe’s economy. With the council’s expenditures on policing soar well beyond its revenue, critics argue for a reevaluation of priorities, advocating for support rather than suppression of the vendors. The mounting financial stress on the local government raises further questions about the sustainability of these aggressive tactics. Ultimately, strikes against vendors signal a failure to address the root economic issues impacting their livelihoods, compelling a call for more effective solutions to ensure both order and support for this vital sector.
Original Source: www.thezimbabwean.co
