By A Correspondent

The government has given local authorities just 48 hours to clear illegal vendors, particularly night traders, from undesignated areas in cities and towns.

This move, which will be enforced with the help of law enforcement agencies, has sparked significant debate. While the government frames the decision as necessary for public health and safety, the root cause of this growing informal market lies in the country’s high unemployment rate.

The question remains: will these drastic measures truly revive the nation’s ailing economy?

Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, cited “serious health, safety, and security concerns,” warning that the increase of unregulated markets has disrupted legally registered businesses and created unsanitary conditions that could lead to disease outbreaks such as cholera and typhoid.

“The mushrooming of unregulated marketplaces has disrupted legally registered businesses,” Garwe said, adding that the growing informal sector is also “increasing unfair competition” and creating “unsanitary conditions.”

However, what Garwe’s statement fails to address is the underlying reason why such informal markets have flourished: high unemployment. With an economy failing to create sustainable job opportunities, many individuals, particularly the youth, have turned to street vending as a means of survival. The vendors aren’t criminals; they are citizens pushed to the edge by a lack of viable employment options. It’s not simply a matter of health and safety—it’s about a failing economy that leaves people with few choices.

While the government is committed to fostering a “safe, clean, and orderly environment,” as Garwe emphasized, the measures taken to curb street vending appear shortsighted.