KEY VIOLATIONS
VIOLENT CLAMPDOWN ON INFORMAL TRADERS
The government of Zimbabwe and local authorities’ ban on night vending, under the pretext of curbing crime and
money laundering, has triggered a disturbing chain of human rights violations, violent confrontations, and economic
distress across multiple towns. Vendors, most of whom are unemployed citizens, including graduates and former
formal workers rely heavily on informal trade for daily survival. The restricted trading hours, compounded by abrupt
and violent crackdowns by both municipal and national police, have devastated their ability to earn a living, leading
to serious violations of economic and social rights. In towns like Chegutu, Masvingo, and Chipinge, law enforcement
operations involved indiscriminate beatings, destruction of property, and the unlawful confiscation of goods. On
March 26 in Chegutu, riot police descended on vendors late at night, brutally assaulting both men and women and
arresting informal traders and taxi drivers. Witnesses reported terrifying scenes of people being beaten in public
places. In Masvingo CBD, a woman selling vegetables collapsed after her entire stock was taken, lamenting that her
grandchildren would go without food and that she would fail to pay rent—an illustration of how deeply this
crackdown affects basic human dignity and the right to livelihood.
Violent encounters between police and informal traders intensified, with council police in Harare and other areas
such as Chinhoyi and Mutare being attacked by desperate vendors. In one case, ZRP officers in Chegutu West beat
a taxi driver and damaged his vehicle, provoking a crowd to retaliate by throwing stones. These incidents not only
reflect growing public frustration but also expose the dangers of militarised, heavy-handed policing in civilian
economic spaces. Moreover, these operations have no accompanying plan to provide alternative livelihoods or
spaces for vending. Authorities have failed to construct adequate marketplaces despite repeated vendor requests,
choosing instead to criminalize survival strategies. In Chipinge, council security reportedly demands bribes of USD 30
to return confiscated goods—further evidence of corruption and exploitation of the vulnerable.
The impact on human rights is grave. The right to work, to livelihood, to be free from inhuman and degrading
treatment, and the right to due process are all being systematically violated. The brutal suppression of informal
traders undermines constitutional guarantees and places already marginalised citizens in even more precarious
conditions. Instead of addressing the root causes of economic hardship, authorities are weaponizing poverty, turning
law enforcement into instruments of fear and repression. The policing strategy, rather than protecting communities,
is fueling social unrest and deepening the crisis of legitimacy faced by local and national institutions. ZPP therefore
urges the government and local authorities to ensure there is a sustainable dialogue between informal traders on
one hand and law enforcement on the other hand, informed by a rights-based approach that respects human
dignity, fosters inclusive economic participation, and restores public trust.
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