‘Zimbabwe’s informal economy players are criminalised, harassed and forced into conflict with municipal police and ZRP’ – representative bodies say
ZIMBABWEANS celebrated Workers’ Day yesterday under difficult conditions, amid unabating tensions in the Middle East that have triggered fuel price increases that have had a ripple effect on transport and other daily costs.
Black News 
On this day, civil society in Zimbabwe issued statements calling for the restoration of the worker’s dignity, recognition of the burden of unpaid care and domestic work as well as urging government to listen to citizens’ cries.
Also, demands were made for government to “stop the sabotage of local governance.”
The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) said the day is a profound reflection on the systemic crises that have reduced the dignity of the Zimbabwean worker to a daily struggle.
“Citizens are crushed under the weight of hyper-inflated costs of transport, food, electricity, education and healthcare costs that bear no relation to the meagre earnings of the few who remain employed.
“The formal economy is a memory for many as thousands have been forced into informal trading on the streets of Harare,” part of HRT statement read.
It said those in the informal economy lacked support and were being criminalised, harassed and forced into constant conflict with the municipal police and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
On the other hand, the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for an inclusive economy that values every worker, protects livelihoods, and recognised care work as an essential pillar of national development.
“We are particularly encouraged by the remarks made by the Public Service deputy minister Mercy Dinha during the VISET National Care Work Symposium where she committed to advancing initiatives aimed at recognising, reducing and rewarding unpaid care work.
“Formalisation Strategy has the potential to become a transformative policy instrument capable of restoring dignity, recognition, protection and economic justice to millions of informal workers who have been for too long, marginalised and criminalised,” VISET stated.
Opposition political party, Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) leader Linda Tsungirirai Masarira condemned the erosion of labour rights, citing violations of the Labour Act (Chapter 29:01), Section 65 of the Constition.
“Workers are not beggars. Workers are nation builders. Workers are the economy,” Masarira said.
The LEAD president said it was disturbing to note that some Zimbabwean workers were underpaid, overworked, and systematically neglected.
Speaking on informal workers, Masarira highlighted, “Informal workers remain excluded from protection and recognition. This is not governance but exploitation.”
In his message on the Workers’ Day, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “the day reminds us that labour is the foundation of our socio-economic development.
“As government, we are, therefore, pleased to join the rest of the world in reaffirming that the dignity of work must always be protected, respected and advanced.”
This year’s Workers’ Day theme was: “Dignity, Justice, and Economic Liberation for Every Worker.”
