Zimbabwe's government has declared that implementing a 24-hour economy remains impractical without proper infrastructure and legal frameworks. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe stated that night vending remains prohibited because cities lack essential facilities, such as sanitation systems and security measures, needed for after-hours commerce. Authorities have linked illegal nighttime trading to drug trafficking and public health hazards, with vendors leaving waste in streets that clog drainage systems when rains arrive.
Garwe explained that formal businesses pay taxes and rates while street vendors undermine municipal revenue streams. The minister said local authorities must first build adequate market spaces with banking services and surveillance cameras before officials will reconsider the prohibition. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube supports extending business hours to boost economic activity, but Garwe emphasized the country needs proper regulations before allowing overnight trade operations.
Garwe explained that formal businesses pay taxes and rates while street vendors undermine municipal revenue streams. The minister said local authorities must first build adequate market spaces with banking services and surveillance cameras before officials will reconsider the prohibition. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube supports extending business hours to boost economic activity, but Garwe emphasized the country needs proper regulations before allowing overnight trade operations.
