The government has slapped a ban on the importation and sale of second-hand clothes, alongside a blanket prohibition on street and night vending, in a move aimed at restoring order in Harare’s chaotic trading spaces.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe made the announcement during a meeting with City of Harare officials and councillors at Town House on Monday, citing the collapse of formal businesses and rising criminal activities as key drivers of the clampdown.
“The proliferation of street and night vending has destroyed the viability of formal businesses in our city,” Garwe said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to advise that the government has banned the importation and sale of second-hand clothes. Consequently, street vending and night vending activities are also banned. Please take note, street fathers.”
Garwe said the informal economy — particularly unregulated vending at night — had become a hotspot for illegal drug sales, threatening public health, safety, and national security.
He urged the City Council to collaborate with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to enforce the new directive, but warned against heavy-handedness.
“In the past, when street clean-ups were initiated, there was no need to harass anyone,” said the minister. “You can begin by engaging associations representing the vendors. Enforcement should not be about being tough or brutal. Please carry it out in a humane manner. We must educate the public while making tough decisions.”
Garwe also raised alarm over worsening traffic congestion in the capital, calling on council authorities to urgently apply and strengthen by-laws to decongest roads and restore flow in the city.
“The current state of traffic is unacceptable,” he said. “I call upon the Council to invoke and strengthen existing by-laws to restore order and improve traffic management in our city.”
The latest move is expected to trigger strong reactions from the informal sector, which has long served as a survival cushion for millions of Zimbabweans amid a shrinking formal job market.
Meanwhile, street vendors and small traders await clarity on how the ban will be enforced, and whether alternative livelihoods or relocation plans will be provided.
