Covid-19 bites informal traders

• Thousands defy lockdown restrictions
• Police arrest over 2000 people daily
• Govt must expedite cushioning allowances

By Daniel Kachere

Informal traders are creeping back into Harare’s central business district (CBD) as they begin to feel the pinch of the 30-day Level 4 lockdown announced by Health Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
The lockdown was prompted by a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths caused by the second wave of the pandemic.
Only essential services – which include hospitals, law firms, media, funeral parlours, pharmacies and supermarkets have remained open while the rest are supposed to stay home.
However, with more than 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s population working in the informal sector, many families were immediately plunged into poverty.
Cornered and desperate, vendors and other informal traders have begun to defy lockdown measures. Nhau went around some popular informal trade areas where Zimbabweans have begun emerging in droves to earn some money in a bid to food on the table.
Linnet Shoko, who sells imported clothes in Mbare told Nhau that there was nothing else she could do to raise funds to feed and clothe her two minor children after her husband passed away a year ago.
“Yes, I am aware of the current lockdown measures but I have no choice as I have to feed and clothe my children. We are playing cat and mouse games with the police trying to avoid arrest while earning a living,” she said.
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZICEA) secretary-general Wisborn Malaya told Nhau that his organisation was pushing Government to release cushioning allowances promised to its members.
Malaya said without those allowances, their members would be forced to find ways of making ends meet.
“The second wave has really shown that it is a serious disease. We want as many people to keep safe. We continue to send awareness through our different platforms for people to adhere to sanitisation, social distancing and staying at home,” said Malaya.
“On the other hand, we have a huge underlying problem. When Government introduced this lockdown they did not provide cushioning allowances for people to stay at home. So this is the major issue affecting the people who live from hand to mouth. They are going to jiggle around so that they put food on their table.
“This is the big challenge we have as a country and we need that collective approach to encourage Government to speed up the process of cushion allowances. On the 10th of January Government released a statement that they had availed about Z$3.5 billion to take care of the vulnerable including informal traders but so far we have not seen any action regarding that cushioning support. Government must quickly expedite that.”
Malaya added that it seemed as though the informal sector was being unfairly targeted as more businesses continue to open their doors.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the increasing disregard for Covid-19 protocols by the public was concerning.
Nyathi said despite arresting over 2000 people daily, the public remained arrogant and complacent. He urged the media to complement police efforts by making the public more aware of the deadly effects of the disease.
“We are arresting over 2000 people nationwide per day violating the national lockdown measures but it appears most are not valuing their lives by being arrogant and complacent.
“People are not taking Covid-19 seriously and we will keep on dealing with these lockdown violators. It is not about being arrested that matters, it is about your health and the health of others. May the media chip in by spreading awareness,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s economy has been struggling even way before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March last year, but the lockdown has brought misery to the common man who is not formerly employed. Nhau/Indaba