Govt sets September 9 deadline for illegal vendors

Zimpapers Writer

GOVERNMENT has given illegal vendors operating in undesignated areas across Harare until September 9 to vacate the sites, warning that a comprehensive, zero-tolerance clean-up operation will begin immediately thereafter before being extended to other urban centres across the country.

The operation, which will target illegal vending structures and stalls, is aimed at restoring order, cleanliness and trafficability in cities and towns.

In a statement yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the proliferation of illegal vending and informal trading in undesignated spaces, particularly in Harare’s central business district and the wider metropolitan province, had become a serious threat to public health, safety and urban order.

He said the practice had compromised sanitation, blocked public pathways and disrupted law-abiding formal businesses while creating artificial congestion.

“Whilst the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe acknowledges the existence of informal trading as a recognised avenue of livelihood, this, however, should be within the bounds of municipal by-laws and at legally designated marketplaces,” said Minister Garwe.

“The current state of disorderliness on the streets is not tolerable.”

Minister Garwe said illegal vending had also become a threat to national security and health, creating conditions conducive to drug and substance abuse and other social ills.

He said all vendors operating at sites not authorised by local authorities, including those involved in illegal street and night trading, had until Wednesday next week, to voluntarily relocate to designated vending markets.

“Vendors are further advised that starting Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies will launch a comprehensive, zero-tolerance clean-up operation targeting illegal vending sites across Harare and the broader Harare Metropolitan Province,” said Minister Garwe.

“During this operation, all illegal vending structures, stalls and sites will be completely disbanded. Municipal police will remain deployed to ensure that cleared areas are not re-occupied.”

The operation will subsequently be rolled out to other cities, towns and urban settlements across the country.

Minister Garwe urged informal traders to take advantage of the one-week window to relocate voluntarily. He warned that failure to comply could result in the loss of merchandise during enforcement operations.

He said local authorities had been directed to facilitate the immediate registration and orderly placement of compliant traders into designated vending structures.

The clean-up exercise, Minister Garwe said, is in line with efforts to achieve an orderly, clean and safe urban environment as envisaged under the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.

“All citizens and stakeholders are expected to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies during this necessary exercise,” he said.

The impending nationwide operation marks Government’s latest intervention to bring order to urban centres, where the growth of informal trading has increasingly seen vendors occupying pavements, road verges and other undesignated public spaces.