The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) has petitioned government over the continued criminalisation of vendors by state security agents.
The petition was drafted at the coalition of vendors and informal traders’ annual conference which was held this week in the capital.
ZCIEA President Loraine Sibanda said the petition was overdue adding that it was high time government transforms informal to the informal economy.
“It is in this vein that this conference seeks to find ways and means of placing and recognising the informal economy to its rightful place where the government and local authorities recognise and respect informal traders as legitimate economic players and not criminals,”she said.
“Are we asking for too much by saying informal traders are seeking to be afforded the necessary recognition through engagement with government and other stake holders, respect and appreciation of the work they do to sustain livelihoods?”
Informal traders at the conferences said a “radical” approach was imminent should the authorities continue to harass “us”.
“This is very possible if we unite as we have done today,” they vowed.
“We are saying enough is enough, they have harassed us enough. They have confiscated our wares and failed to account for them and the next step now is to take them head on”.
According to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the informal economy has outpaced formal employment and its now at 94.5%.
The labour movement says 98% of the   country’s youths are in engaging in informal activities where 52% are partaking as informal traders.
Despite being the current pillar to economic survival informal traders continue to be harassed by local authorities and the state security.
In Harare and vendors and municipal police are ever on each other’s throat.