ZCTU on vendors 

Source: ZCTU on vendors – DailyNews Live

STAFF WRITER      27 September 2018

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it has noted
with concern that despite claiming to be a government of the people, the
new administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is treating people in
the informal sector with heavy-handedness reminiscent of the Robert Mugabe
era.

In a statement, ZCTU said it is appalled by the way government is using
the police to crush vendors ostensibly to stop the spread of cholera.

“While the ZCTU acknowledges the threat of cholera to the populace, the
solution does not lie in chasing people, beating them and taking their
goodies. It must be remembered that these are breadwinners trying to eke
out a living because of the high unemployment levels in the country,” said
the main labour union.

ZCTU said government must accept the fact that the informal economy has
become the biggest employer in the country and therefore it needs to be
carefully handled.

“The people in this sector also pay rentals, rates, school fees and
various taxes and if their source of income is stopped, they would not be
able to do so. In fact there is a possibility of increased criminality as
some turn to illegal activities to survive. The solution is to sit down
with them and chart the way forward,” reads part of the statement.