Zimbabwe workers' union ZCTU wants the government to stop going after street sellers. They think officials need to fix the broken economy instead. The labor group spoke up after Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe ordered all selling on streets to stop across the country. Garwe claimed this would help manage trash problems and stop drug dealing.
ZCTU Acting Secretary General Runesu Dzimiri called the minister's two-day deadline harsh and heartless. He pointed out that regular people sell things on the streets because they have no jobs or other ways to earn money. Dzimiri stated that failed government policies caused high unemployment rates, forcing citizens onto sidewalks. He added that creating real jobs, as promised, would make street selling disappear fast.
The union asked officials to accept that most Zimbabweans work informal jobs these days. They noted even the International Labour Organization sees this issue as important enough for discussion at their upcoming 113th conference. The meeting aims to find better ways to turn casual work into proper jobs that offer decent pay and benefits.
Dzimiri called the government's actions very two-faced. He reminded everyone that officials had pushed citizens to start small businesses for themselves. Then suddenly, calling these same people "eyesores" hurts deeply. Dzimiri suggested that many street sellers actually work for powerful hidden bosses who pay them wages. He wondered if the crackdown just helps big stores that lost business to street vendors.
ZCTU Acting Secretary General Runesu Dzimiri called the minister's two-day deadline harsh and heartless. He pointed out that regular people sell things on the streets because they have no jobs or other ways to earn money. Dzimiri stated that failed government policies caused high unemployment rates, forcing citizens onto sidewalks. He added that creating real jobs, as promised, would make street selling disappear fast.
The union asked officials to accept that most Zimbabweans work informal jobs these days. They noted even the International Labour Organization sees this issue as important enough for discussion at their upcoming 113th conference. The meeting aims to find better ways to turn casual work into proper jobs that offer decent pay and benefits.
Dzimiri called the government's actions very two-faced. He reminded everyone that officials had pushed citizens to start small businesses for themselves. Then suddenly, calling these same people "eyesores" hurts deeply. Dzimiri suggested that many street sellers actually work for powerful hidden bosses who pay them wages. He wondered if the crackdown just helps big stores that lost business to street vendors.
