Press Statements

BVTA Press Statement on Africa Border Day

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07 June 2022 Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) joins Africa and Informal Cross Border Traders Associations in celebrating the African Border Day. The day is celebrated under the COVID-19 pandemic era, whereby borders have restrictions in trying to contain the spread of the virus. The informal cross border ecosystem is surely transforming the lives of ICBTs. ICBTs are calling for long time and sustained support that ensures that there are more solid and mutual relationships with border officials. As BVTA, we continue to call upon all land borders to ensure that there is trade facilitation for Conflict Reduction in Borders and improving the situation of women informal cross border traders. We also call upon African borders to also embrace the Simplified Trade Regime facility (STR) its adoption for use. We salute the women ICBTs who travel across borders to earn a living for their families. These women are exposed to all forms of harassment which include, sextortion, violence, theft and verbal abuse. Following the closure of borders due to COVID-19, women ICBTs opted for using unauthorised areas of entry risking being attacked by wild animals and being sexually assaulted. We applaud women ICBTs who travel across borders carrying small children on their backs on a mission to fetch livelihoods for them. BVTA has been instrumental in echoing safe, harmonious trade in land borders of Africa and has also developed a Border Charter that aims at clarifying border processes and procedures for both the ICBTs and border officials. The border charter will set up a plan of action that will address various challenges faced by Women ICBTs. We implore the government to craft measures and policies that will support ICBTs and protect them against unlawful acts. We call upon African borders to adopt liberalising the markets and free market economies in our land borders. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity Unit Twitter – @bvtatrust Facebook Page – Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Facebook – Bulawayo Vendors Trust

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BVTA Press statement on International Workers Day

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01 May, 2022 Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) joins the country and the rest of the world in commemorating the International workers day. BVTA stands in solidarity in celebrating the past struggles and victories of all workers across the world and thousands of unemployed Zimbabweans who have resorted to vending and trading as a source of livelihood under the country’s harsh economic environment. This day is also commemorated at a time when the world is fighting the novel COVID-19 which has affected all the facets of human life. We celebrate men, women and children who are tying to eke a living in the informal economy under punitive working conditions. We are aggrieved that it is common to work 10 to 16-hour days in hazardous and unsafe spaces in the informal economy, there is lack of social security, lack of medical health schemes and poor infrastructure. Women have no possibility of working remotely from home as the play double roles, staying at home would mean losing their jobs and with wages, they cannot eat. BVTA also notes with concern that the grim employment statistics in the country affect mostly young people with thousands being deposited into the informal economy every year. We are still deeply disturbed that informal economy workers are criminalised at local level, the municipal police are unbridled to conduct violent raids that have left informal traders wallowing in poverty and dismay. BVTA implores the government to adopt practical steps towards creating conducive conditions for the informal economy workers to thrive in line with provisions on Economic and Social Rights in the constitution of Zimbabwe and provide social security for informal economy workers. We honour the heroic struggle of all the informal economy workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Twitter – @bvtatrust Facebook Page – Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Facebook – Bulawayo Vendors Trust Website – www.bvtatrust.org

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BVTA Press Statement on International Women’s Day

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08 March, 2022 Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) this year again joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day, which comes as the world continues to navigate COVID-19 pandemic under the theme: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”As we commemorate the International Women’s Day, our hearts are with the women in the informal economy, who strive day and night to provide for their families in the face of the current economic downfall and COVID-19 pandemic, defying all the odds. You are our legends and you deserve to be celebrated.While we celebrate the life changing stories of incredible women making strides in their different spaces in the informal economy, we realise that it is not only in the informal economy where gender equality is still a deficiency but in almost all stratas of the environment including science, technology and politics.With informal trading in Zimbabwe, mothers leave their homes as early as 3am to order vegetables and other goods for reselling, they get mugged or harassed in the wee hours of the morning as they rush to the markets, some with small children on their backs.We sympathise with mothers who are Informal Cross Border Traders (ICBTs), who face the brunt of all forms of harassment by some unscrupulous border officials as a way of paying bribes, whilst trying to eke a living. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now exposed to rape, robbery and even the risk of being devoured by wild animals whilst using unlawful entry points.We are compassionate with mothers who are trying to fend for their children amidst the novel corona virus, which has led to the shutdown of borders and made it difficult for informal traders to operate.We continue to be unfazed in advocating and stopping at nothing to achieve equal opportunities for both women and men and protection of women as they are vulnerable.BVTA continues to champion women to stand up for their rights. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity UnitContact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press Statement on the COVID-19 vaccination blitz in Bulawayo

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07 July, 2021 We applaud and appreciate the government’s initiative of prioritising vendors and informal traders as frontline service providers, through the COVID-19 vaccination program that started on 6 July, 2021.We however noted a number of challenges at the vaccination centres. On day one, informal traders who were not in possession of valid licenses or letters were being turned away, but we are grateful that this issue was resolved by authorities through public notices calling for use of registers for market places.A number of informal traders who spoke to us complained about queuing for longer hours from morning till almost closure of businesses, yet they are supposed to be running their businesses in racing with the reduced hours of trade.We also observed that after queueing for hours, some informal traders ended up not maintaining social distancing, many might get infected with the virus, if the vaccination process continues to move at a snail pace in some vaccination centres.We also noted that some citizens have little or no knowledge at all on this particular vaccination program, some were told that it is for informal traders after queueing from morning, only to be turned away at the gate.We were also made of aware of claims that some centres have a number of informal traders that they attend to per day, which is said to be 40, and we were informed that informal traders were turned away and told that the limit for the day has been reached. We plead with the authorities to allow informal traders who are members of Informal Economy Associations to vaccinate using their membership cards as most of them are under the council licensing waiting list, following their public call in year 2020.As an Association and as part of our efforts to complement government’s efforts in this vaccination program, tomorrow we shall begin to deploy our Market Bailiffs who are going to support their peer informal traders in maintaining order in the vaccination centres. They will be using hailers to get their peer informal traders to maintain social distancing.We strongly urge our fellow informal traders to protect themselves and their families through maintaining social distancing in vaccination centres, wearing masks properly and sanitizing their hands during the vaccination program. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity UnitContact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press statement on the informal traders COVID-19 vaccine program

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07 July, 2021 As Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), we welcome and applaud the government’s initiative of prioritising vendors and informal traders on COVID-19 vaccine blitz that commenced on 06 July 2021 and is expected to end in 10 days according to a notice from government. BVTA has been advocating for the accessibility and availability of the vaccine to market places and people living in the high density areas and recognising informal traders as essential service providers in our economy. Informal traders showed determination to get the vaccine as they turned up in large numbers at the vaccination centres in the city. However, we recorded some setbacks which included vaccination requirements e.g valid vending license. Some informal traders were turned away as they were not in possession of vending licenses. Some are employees in market places and licenses do not show their names and some informal traders are renting in privately owned markets where the owner of the market has sole responsibility to operate in the market and tenants simple pay rentals. We managed to bring to the attention of the authorities who acted swiftly to include the corrective action in their latest public notice where such markets are advised to use registers for market occupants. We were also concerned about the delay in commencing the vaccination process in some centres, as some traders had woke up very early to get vaccinated and return to their market places to work since trading hours have also been reduced due to the lockdown induced curfew. We implore government and its various agencies to scale up public awareness on the vaccine process in order to debunk fake information circulating in the public domain and reduce instances of misinformation. We commit to engage and complementing efforts, to raise awareness on measures to contain the spread of the virus and to encourage more of our members to get vaccinated. According to a notice published by Bulawayo City Council (BCC), vaccination centres are Large City hall, Nkulumane Hall, Lobengula Street/3rd Avenue, Renkini, Emganwini and ENtumbane complex, Nketa 6, 8, 9, Nkulumane complex/ Kelvin Industries, Cowdray Park terminus, Cowdray Park Sign Post, Cowdray Park – Caravan, Spampurekini- Mpopoma, Mpopoma Clinic, Lobengula Private Mall, Ngozi Mine, Stanely hall, Bradfield, Bellevue, Mahatshula, Leeside, Morningside and Hillside shopping centre. The Cabinet announcement on employers writing exemption letters for their employees is not clear on whether informal traders are supposed to use licences or association membership cards as proof for self-employment, as compared to formal employees whom their employers will issue them with letters. Our considered view is that the announcement is vague, it seems discriminatory and is likely to cause confusion if not clarified as soon as possible. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity Unit Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

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Following the surge in positive COVID-19 cases in the country, we implore informal traders to make an effort get vaccinated so as to advance efforts towards achieving herd immunity leading to relaxed restrictions and further opening of working spaces in market places. Our analysis of the pronouncements by some government officials indicate that going forward it may become a requirement for traders in marketplaces to be vaccinated. In as much we are against forcing people to get vaccinated and their inalienable right to choose, we strongly encourage our membership to be ahead of time and be prepared for any eventualities.  Available in the public indicates that COVID-19 cases are rising daily in the country bringing the cumulative total to 43 480 with 5073 active cases, 37 524 recoveries and 1 709 deaths since the outbreak of the of the pandemic over a ago year. We urge government to increase the availability of the vaccine and make it accessible to many people particularly in high density, who are struggling to commute to the currently designated vaccination centres. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity Unit Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA press on the International Women’s Day

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08 March, 2021Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) this year again joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day, which comes as the world continues to navigate COVID-19 pandemic under the theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”.As we commemorate this day, our hearts are with the women in the informal sector, who make the highest proportion the informal sector and exceed that of men in most countries, staggering to the impact of COVID-19, from being pushed into poverty, to loss of jobs as the informal economy shrinks, to an alarming spike in domestic violence and the unpaid care burden.As BVTA, we salute women informal traders for their bravery in fighting COVID-19 and at the same time trying to eke a living for their families.We assert that women in the informal sector must also be represented in leadership positions. This is an opportunity to empower women informal traders and disregard the long standing obstacles to their progress and become better people in the society.We advocate for protection and recognition of women, they must not be discriminated and abused because they are vulnerableBVTA continues to empower women in the informal economy.Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press Statement on lockdown extension for 2 weeks with the opening of markets upon satisfying COVID-19 WHO protocols.

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15 February, 2021 As Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), we welcome the development as it falls within what we called for i.e placing livelihoods at the center of enforcement of COVID-19 measures, on opening of markets upon satisfying COVID-19 World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols. Our understanding of satisfying WHO protocols is the screening at market entrances by a thermometer, washing of hands at the entrances, masking up in market places and observing physical distancing between trading bays owners and queuing customers. We implore the government to clarify some semblance of ambiguity on the statement on compliance to WHO protocols to the informal sector, to remove any doubt. As BVTA, we had already handed over hundreds of sanitizers, a thousand masks, hand washing water dispensers, gave Bulawayo City Council (BCC) road line paint to mark trading bays to conform to physical distancing, recruited and deployed Market Bailiffs to monitor and raise awareness on ways to reduce the spread of the virus. We also ran a series of radio programs at SkyzMetro FM, where informal traders shared strategies they are employing to fight the spread of the virus. We are going to urgently distribute more materials to support informal traders and address the Cost of Compliance in the interim, as well as aid them to comply with COVID-19 protocols. These will include thermometers for use in enclosed markets.  It was indeed long overdue to balance livelihoods and enforcement. We continue to call for a holistic approach in mitigating the spread of virus. If we all put our hands on the deck we will be able to contain its spread. We are confident that a holistic approach makes everyone responsible to play their part and prospects of defying the lockdown will be reduced. We still insist on a cushioning package to bridge the impact and shocks of the lockdown on vendors and informal traders. Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org  Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press Statement in response to the government presumptive tax on informal traders

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27 November, 2020 As Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) we are dismayed by the government’s proposal on the seemingly punitive presumptive monthly tax of a Zimbabwe dollar equivalent to USD$30, on micro and small enterprises and informal operators. In August, the government disbursed 600 RTGS as a COVID-19 cushioning allowance to vendors and informal traders, although this is a welcome move and not all of them received this fund, the cushioning fell short on ensuring that vendors and informal traders are insulated, some have failed to even restock with the money. Now the government wants the same vendors and informal traders to pay $30 USD or equivalent. We feel this amount is an attack to the economic rights of traders for them to be able to eke a living. People are failing to make sales now and there is reduced business due to the impact of COVID-19. An ordinary vendor cannot generate or make $30 USD, otherwise, instead of working to earn a living and fend for their families, informal traders will be working to pay the government tax and left to die. We implore the government to sincerely consider the plight of informal economy workers, a predatory state will leave families broken and children of informal workers in the streets. It cannot be over emphasised that COVID-19 has narrowed income levels for the informal workers and it continues to wreak havoc as the cost of complaint rests on their shoulders, so to propose such an amount is being insensitive from the part of the government. For vendors to be able to adhere to World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) COVID-19 protocols, they must make monetary contributions to purchase sanitisers, masks and hand washing water dispensers, they need to contribute money towards the cost of compliance on COVID-19 guidelines, then the government adds $30 on top of the burden already on their shoulders.  For Informal Cross Border Traders, they have to be going out of the country to either buy commodities or sell locally made products, they have to cough over $60 USD for the COVID-19 PCR certificate and the government proposes to add the $30 USD on top. The government must be feel for desperate women who are now bread winners in light of economic challenges We strongly feel the government’s proposal is unjustified and will increase prospects of corruption. We implore the government to be lenient and sensitive to the informal sector which is already suffering from the burns of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an Association, we strongly reject the proposed fee. We are encouraging the government to engage the sector so that we come up with a mutual beneficiary amount or arrangement. We also call upon the government to explain the payment of the $30 USD tax for clarity. Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 908

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BVTA Press Statement on 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence

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25 November, 2020 Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) this year again joins the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, in enactment of the theme “Orange the World: Refund, Respond, Prevent, Collect”. Conversely, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is this year celebrated on a different note, whereby the world has been hit hard by the novel corona virus. Zimbabwe and most countries are under lockdown in trying to curb the spread of the virus. The Constitution of Zimbabwe in chapter 4: Subsection 2, Section 51, 52 and 53 provides for the right to dignity, personal security, and freedom from inhumane, degrading treatment and all forms of violence. Section 52 of the Constitution states that “Every person has the right to bodily and psychological integrity which includes, the right to freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources”. BVTA abhors and strongly condemns the harassment of women, youth and children physically, emotionally and sexually. It has come to the attention of BVTA that different forms of harassment continue to increase, especially on women informal traders from their spouses. This is due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, which have forced women to stay indoors due to their vulnerability to harrasment and abuse. COVID-19 causes suffering and economic devastation to women informal traders, which results to domestic violence. In response to such cases, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence will be used as a strategy to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women informal traders.Reports on cases of harassment and abuse have been heard also on women Informal Cross Border Traders (ICBTs), who are extorted by unscrupulous authorities at border posts as a way of paying bribes.BVTA implores local authorities to strengthen policies and laws on protection of humans against rape and sexual harassment. Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity Unit Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 90

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