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Beitbridge crafts MoU with municipality

Informal traders in Beitbridge town are on the verge of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the local authority to improve working conditions for informal traders in the restive border town. Beitbridge informal traders groups have jointly submitted the proposed MoU which details the commitments of both parties to improve informal trade and facilitate revenue generation by the local authority. The MoU was facilitated by the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA). In an interview with The Vendors Voice, an informal trader from Beitbridge, Bose Khupe said the MoU will amplify their voices in raising their concerns and service delivery issues. “Our engagements with Beitbridge Town Council so far have been fruitful. We have seen tremendous improvement and willingness to improve the informal sector business in this town.” “The MoU helps us to combine our efforts as vendors, so that when we have grievances we come as one, with one voice, a joint effort is likely to be taken seriously by our local municipality,” said Khupe. He said before the MoU, the vendors did not appreciate the importance of licenses, there was not much difference between a spot fine and the monthly dues. “Vendors never really saw a constructive dialogue going on between us and the council, it was just us against “them”. Formalising operations seemed to be tedious and expensive and complicated; we didn’t know that we could participate in the town budget meetings; we didn’t know our rights as to our informal activities,” he said. Khupe added that the MoU is going to help vendors and other stakeholders become aware of their rights within their scope of operation. “It also helps us to understand our responsibilities towards our environment and towards our customers. It also serves to inform of any future engagements or decisions we are going to make towards a better foreseeable future and perhaps of note we have seen informal traders and local municipality engagements,” he said. He also said the vendors have had capacity-building workshops meant to equip vendors with different skills. “Just recently we had two engagements with the local authority. One was one hosted by BVTA , where we discussed the MoU and the constitution. We then held another one with Beitbridge Cross Border Association where we also discussed the MoU. The organizations are trying to lobby for the informal trader exemption and privileges as the borders are about to open,” said Khupe. The signing of an MoU will enable vendors to conduct their businesses following public health and safety measures. The Town Council also is set to reap the benefits from revenue collection.

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Kariba traders decry market completion delay

Kariba informal traders have raised concerns on the delay in the completion of a new market, raising fears on their plight in the imminent rainy season. This comes after the Kariba Town Council in May 2021 decided to build a new vegetable and flea market business unit to help decongest the town at the same-time envisaging to transform the face of Kariba Town. The council pulled down over 400 trading bays in the old market, due to poor standards and informal traders operating in that area were shifted to a temporary market area with makeshift shades.  A few months after the council relocated informal traders to a temporary market, there is little movement in the construction of the new market. The traders are stressed that the rainy season is imminent and this will further disrupt their businesses. ”The rainy season is almost here and it was estimated that the construction of the new market will be complete before the  rainy season, as vendors we are worried because we were relocated to a temporary shelter which does not protect us from the harsh weather conditions,” said Judge Karombo, an informal trader in Kariba. Karombo further said that the market is not yet complete and they are also worried that the new market will not be able to accommodate a huge number of vendors. Kariba informal traders are appealing to the council to speed up the market construction in order for them to be sheltered  during the rainy season.

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MoU to improve livelihoods of Gwanda traders

The Jahunda Vendors and Traders Association (JVTA) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gwanda Municipality, a move expected to improve the livelihoods of vendors in the gold mining town. Jahunda Vendors and Traders Association is partnering with the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA). In an interview with The Vendors Voice, the chairperson of JVTA, Victor Gorejena, said the MoU comes at a time when vendors in Gwanda are experiencing several challenges.  “We are now at an advanced stage and we are working as the Gwanda vendors, Municipality of Gwanda as well as Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA),” said Gorejena. “As vendors in Gwanda we are facing a lot of challenges. The MoU seeks to address some of the challenges faced by the vendors for example, the Municipality bylaws are not accessible to the members of the public so the MoU will see the municipality addressing that and putting the bylaws online where we can access them any time we want.” He said the MoU will also address issues of vendors’ rights.  “The MoU also seeks to address issues of the rights of vendors. You know vendors were arrested in a degrading manner, so those are some of the issues that the MoU seeks to address,” said JVTA chairperson. Gorejena added that BVTA has also assisted the vendors in Gwanda to form a vendors’ Working Group. “There are various associations which make up the Working Group. As Gwanda vendors so far, we have managed to have an informal working group where we have various site committees because there was no one voice from the Gwanda vendors,” he said. He also added that the vendors had financial literacy and business management training as part of the efforts to equip them with skills to run their businesses.  “So far the council has been cooperative and they have been now including us in their meetings which is something we never experienced in Gwanda,” said Gorejena.

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“Open the borders” – Women ICBTs

The closure of borders posed a huge catastrophe to the livelihoods of women Informal Cross Border Traders ( ICBTs) who have been surviving through buying or selling goods in neighbouring countries and abroad. “We appeal to authorities to provide us with special permits that will enable us to cross the border and order or sell our wares so that we can be able to put food on the table  for our families or to at least open the borders for us to get to do our usual businesses,” Portia Sithole a woman ICBT lamented to The Vendors Voice. The closing of some borders has caused a huge increase in smuggling activities through undesignated points. Informal traders who survive on trading across the borders have been using undesignated crossing points to earn a living. For example between Zimbabwe and South Africa, traders have to cross the crocodile infested Limpopo River endangering their lives. “Crossing through the bush to Musina is not safe especially for us women, there is a lot of robbery happening there, narrated Portia Sithole,” a Beitbridge cross border trader. “Some women are raped, tortured and their goods are taken away from them,” continued Sithole. Sithole also added that an armed forces helicopter will be hovering around in the bushes, instigating fear on the traders, as well as mounted forces on horses, who chase the women carrying goods leading to loss of the wares and loss of capital. Another ICBT, Siphiwe Dlula from Beitbridge said, “We have tried resorting to ordering our goods online, however when the goods come, some will have been lost and there is no way to claim them, and the choice of goods will have changed, what you order is not what you get”. Dlula also added that runners and truck drivers are not reliable as they sometimes disappear without delivering. “We call upon the government to urgently open up borders in order for us to be able to stock wares. Our lives have been compromised as we use the bush to cross to South Africa, if borders are opened, it will give us leverage as our safety will be guaranteed, said Tafulani Mpofu an ICBT from Beitbridge. Informal cross-border trade serves a significant income source, particularly for women. In border towns such as Beitbridge, informal cross border traders constitute the bulk of the traffic that passes through the borders and the closing of the borders has caused huge challenges for this group of traders. In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, almost all countries suspended international flights, introduced 14-day quarantines, and closed land borders since 2020, placing Informal Cross border trading activities to an abrupt halt.

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Hwange informal traders seek to address the blurred line of authority

Informal traders in the coal mining town of Hwange are faced with a dilemma of who their regulator is as the Rural District Council and the Hwange Colliery Company are seen to be competing for the same role. Traders are paying rates to the both entities and they both seek to regulate and control how informal traders carry out their businesses in the town. Informal traders who were trained by Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) as Community Based Advocacy Teams (COMBAT) on Advocacy under the Vendors Accountability Laboratories and Voices Enhancement (VALVE) Project identified Hwange Rural District Council and the Colliery Company as important stakeholders which they have to engage with to address challenges faced by informal traders with most emanating from the blurred roles. In a training meeting on Constitutional Rights Awareness conducted by BVTA, traders highlighted that they have to get the stakeholders to the talking table with them and address the issue on who has authority and where. Traders also noted that it is possible for them and all the parties involved to work together as they constantly talk and address the issues that come hence creating a win-win situation for everyone. Hwange traders who are still in the process of formalising their association hinted that part of the talks with the stakeholders would be centred on the formulation of an informal traders By-law which will address the double roles played by the stakeholders. Other stakeholders which own land in Hwange like Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and National Railways of Zimbabwe would be involved in the talks even though these are not antagonistic like the Colliery Company. Traders also noted that if private land owners want traders to pay rates to them, at least the fees should be reasonable and not exorbitant like what they are charging now. Christabel Kadyamusuma also noted that informal traders would like to attain their vending licences issued by the District Administrator’s office which is close by rather than the Rural District Council offices which are far away. Siphetheni Nkiwane an informal trader who trades from the bus rank stated that their previous advocacy efforts like the engagement with the Rural District Council on the reduction of vending licenses from $120 to $30 have taught them to be strategic in bringing forward their issues and identifying the stakeholders to engage with. Hwange informal traders trust what they learnt under the VALVE Project and their practical advocacy experiences will come in handy in their talks with the stakeholders on issues of regulation.

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Kariba traders establish trust

Vendors in the resort town of Kariba have since registered a trust in an effort to advocate on issues affecting the informal sector in Kariba town. The trust, formerly known as Kariba Vendors and Traders Association (KVTA), was registered in September 2021 by a group of informal traders after realising an administration gap that existed between Kariba Town Council and the sector. The decision to register as a trust comes after Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) equipped informal traders in Kariba with requisite knowledge on human rights, advocacy and the legislation governing the trade. KVTA secretary Mr. Tapiwa Mandava applauded BVTA for capacity building and guidance provided during the registration process. “With guidance from BVTA, we managed to successfully register KVTA, as an association that will be championing the cause of vendors and informal traders in Kariba,” he said. “KVTA ensures that there is a good relationship with the local authority as a way of mitigating conflicts that have arisen over the years resulting from the absence of engagement mechanisms.”  KVTA is a membership based organization where members will pay nominal subscription fees that will enable the organization to carry out its mandate. As part of its mandate, KVTA  also seeks to equip the sector with relevant knowledge and business skills to adapt in a dynamic environment. KVTA will also enhance the formalisation of the informal sector by assisting vendors to register their businesses and obtain licences. The development will assist local traders to acquire loan facilities and contest for tenders.  The association plans to offer revolving loans in an effort to resuscitate ailing businesses in the resort town. BVTA will mentor the newly established entity and provide technical support in the areas of need.

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ICTs uptake increases on traders

Vendors and informal traders in Bulawayo have since embraced Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to market their products and conduct business. The incorporation of digital technologies has further enhanced their competitiveness in online trading. The traders underwent rigorous training on the use of online platforms to grow their businesses at the same time adapting to the complex business environment induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Online trading has become more popular global with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. The use of internet based platforms has enabled vendors and informal traders to secure more customers for their products. Platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp for Business and mobile applications such as ZRBF Sizimele, have enabled traders to reach out to more customers locally and internationally. Senelisiwe Gwebu, from Magwegwe suburb is among the many traders who have embraced online platforms to buy and sell products. Gwebu had this to say, “Online platforms have offered alternative ways of trading. We order our stock for resale online and we make the payment upon delivery. We have also used WhatsApp, Facebook to advertise our products and we have also managed to keep our business running despite lockdown restrictions.” The Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Sizimele mobile application was recently launched by ZRBF Sizimele Consortium in which Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association is a partner. The application is assisting traders to market their products locally and internationally. It interlinks small scale suppliers and sellers of wide range of products. The fusion of traditional forms of trade with the use of digital technologies is seen as a resilience building strategy in the face of a changing economic context.

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BVTA facilitates licensing of traders

Bulawayo City Council last month made a call to Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) members to apply for vending licenses at Dugmore offices after years of advocacy for the decentralisation of license offices. About one hundred and fifty BVTA members have managed to apply for vending licenses at Dugmore offices and are now legal traders. . Over the years, BVTA has been advocating for the decentralisation of the licensing offices after a vast majority of members were failing to attain licenses, leading to ballooning illegal vending and confiscation of goods. Simbarashe Ndoro, BVTA member and Ward 17 Chairperson was the first to take up the call. Ndoro also mobilised a hundred other BVTA members from Pumula North.  “100 BVTA members from Ward 17 have attained their licenses, I am overjoyed as the licensing process has become a fulfillment of my dream,” Ndoro told The Vendors Voice. For the past three years, BVTA and its members have been advocating for the decentralisation of licensing offices and transparency in the application procedure and the turnover time it takes to be processed. The organisation has also been advocating for the reduction of the exorbitant license fees, which informal traders have been failing to acquire due to the high fees. To apply for the licenses the informal traders must bring two colour passport-sized photos, photocopied identity cards, three fingerprint forms, proof of residence and a medical health certificate for those selling fruits and vegetables. The license fee for both new and renewals is US$11.50 and rent is US$5.75 in areas outside the Central Business District (CBD) and US$10 within the CBD. There has been cases of Municipal police soliciting for bribes from informal traders operating illegally and confiscation of wares due to illegal trading. BVTA continues to empower and conscientise informal traders on acquiring vending licenses and applauds the council for its efforts on legalising informal traders.

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Traders call for inclusive planning

A consortium of Informal Economy associations is calling upon local authorities to adopt inclusive strategies in inclusive city planning and designing. The call comes amid complaints raised by informal traders concerning random positioning of market spaces, shortages of storage space and lack of other supporting facilities such as ablutions. Some of the spaces reportedly do not have disability friendly facilities. The absence of consultative mechanisms have impacted negatively on the relationship between informal traders and local authorities. The resultant relationship has been that of conflict between the local authorities’ law enforcement agents and informal traders as some traders do their trade in undesignated areas. Inclusive planning will be effective in curbing illicit trade on pavements and at the same time minimise the harassment of informal traders. The consortium of associations which include Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), Women Alliance of Business Associations of Zimbabwe (WABAZ), Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association (ZCBTA), Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA), proposed an approach that would bring the local authority, traders and retailers together to come up with issues that simultaneously address issues of market access and infrastructure development. The infrastructure can be tailor-made and serve as a cost-effective method of advertising. The consortium also drew up an agenda for the informal economy under the title The Informal Economy Matters. This agenda included a Declaration on recognition of Respect for and Participation of the informal economy together with seven thematic areas in which policy should be developed to improve the informal economy in the country.

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Traders Working Group equipped with leaderships skills

The Bulawayo Informal Sector Working Group (ISWG) received a big boost of knowledge on Leadership, negotiation and conflict management skills during a virtual training that was held on Zoom in August by Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) under the Centre for International Private Enterprise project. The ISWG is a group which deals with issues that are faced by informal traders in Bulawayo and envisages in coming up with solutions for the betterment of livelihoods hence BVTA realised the need for the group to possess governance skills. Facilitating during the training, BVTA Executive Director Michael Ndiweni unleashed leadership skills in the first session. “Leadership without followership is just like a walk in the park,” said Ndiweni. “A leader should be a good listener, good communicator, be innovative and be like a gardener who creates safe space for plants hence the need to create one for the informal traders,” continued Ndiweni.  He challenged leaders to break the ice and be the agenda setter in the sector rather than being a dovetail while the informal sector is languishing in numerous challenges which needs their attention. Ndiweni buttressed that associations should adopt new ideas, fair assertiveness and be innovative, diplomatic and promote dialogue and analysis. Addressing the same meeting, Ms Blondie Ndebele who is an Information expert capacitated the ISWG leaders with essential elements of communication, pointing out that technology is at the heart of development hence the need to embrace it as leaders of associations and advance communication skills. “Leaders should reflect and clarify issues rather than to conclude without facts as it fuels conflicts and creates ridges within the sector,” added Ndebele. She stated that, good communication is about understanding instructions, prioritise understanding, requests, asking questions and conveying key information. Mthandazo Bhebe, Assistant Projects Officer at BVTA unpacked negotiation skills stating that communication and negotiation are inseparable. “It is of paramount importance in any negotiation process, to understand someone and put them in their context,” Bhebe said. “Negotiation hinges on accommodativeness in nature and is not segregated, but binds and harmonises parties together. In approaching any negotiation process, attitude, knowledge and good interpersonal communication is fundamental. There is need for vendors and informal traders to understanding the context as they negotiate for their spaces in the informal economy,” said Bhebe. The Vendors Voice also spoke to one of the ISWG members, Mr Shelton Sithole, who expressed his gratitude for the training and that the group will apply the skills in their respective places of work. The ISWG actively took part in the virtual platform through Zoom under the Informal Economy Awareness Programme. The programme advances seven (7) thematic areas which are; Respect for and Recognition of the informal economy, Development of linkages between the informal economy and formal business, Market Access and Infrastructure, Formalisation, Financial inclusion, Social Protection, Devolution. The programme is led by Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Associations (ZCIEA) with four other partners namely Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), Women Alliance of Business Associations in Zimbabwe (WABAZ), Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association (ZCBTA) through support from the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).

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