Tinotenda Hove – The government has given informal traders operating from unapproved sites a final deadline to leave the streets, ordering all vendors to vacate by September 9, 2026 as part of a nationwide “zero-tolerance” clean-up campaign.

The announcement by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has sparked concern for thousands of Zimbabweans who depend on street trading for income amid ongoing economic hardship.

In a ministerial statement dated September 2, vendors trading from unauthorised locations in Harare and other towns were told they have until Wednesday, September 9 to move to council-designated vending sites.

“The Ministry is issuing a stern and final warning to all residents operating in places not authorized by the local authority,” Garwe said.

He directed all illegal street and night vendors to “immediately vacate these unauthorised sites and relocate to lawful, designated vending markets provided by the local authority.”

Authorities say the operation will start in Harare and then roll out to other cities, towns and urban centres nationwide.
During the exercise, officials plan to demolish illegal vending structures, stalls and trading points, with municipal police stationed to stop traders from returning.

“All illegal vending structures, stalls, and sites will be completely disbanded,” the statement said.

Government says the crackdown is aimed at addressing sanitation, congestion and public safety issues. Officials accuse informal traders of blocking walkways and undermining formal businesses.

The ministry stated that the growth of informal trading has “severely compromised urban sanitation, blocked public pathways, disrupted law-abiding formal businesses, and created artificial congestion that undermines public safety and health regulations.”

However, the tough stance is likely to add pressure on vulnerable traders, many of whom rely on vending as their only source of livelihood.

While noting that informal trading is “a recognized avenue of livelihood”, the government insisted it must be conducted within council by-laws and at approved marketplaces.
Garwe also tied illegal vending to wider social challenges, alleging that “the conduct of illegal vendors has become a threat to the health and security of our nation creating a home for drug and substance abuse among other ills.”

Local authorities have been instructed to register compliant traders and help them move into designated structures.

But with just days until the September 9 deadline, traders face a tight timeline to reorganise, raising concerns over whether enough alternative vending space and facilities exist.

The directive also cautions traders of possible losses if they do not comply.
“We strongly urge all informal traders to take note of the advice, utilize this window, and comply with the directive voluntarily to avoid loss of their merchandise,” the minister said.

Government is framing the operation as part of efforts to restore order and cleanliness in urban areas and advance the country’s Vision 2030 goals.

“The Government remains committed to fostering a sustainable, orderly, clean, and safe macroeconomic environment,” Garwe said.
For many informal traders though, the announcement is more than a clean-up. It poses a direct threat to livelihoods in a country where street vending has become a key survival strategy for households struggling to get by.

With Harare scheduled as the first major target on September 9, the government’s crackdown could spark renewed friction between authorities and vendors as the deadline nears.