Registration For Informal Sector Relief Fund Ongoing.
Ronald Chigwada
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) urge government of Zimbabwe to publish full names of all informal traders who have so far benefited from ZW $89 million Covid-19 relief fund meant to support the sector country wide.
Currently 309 146 registered informal sector workers are affected by the global pandemic according to Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Ministry of Women’s Affairs, various associations ,Small and Medium Enterprises Development amongst others provided this information accross the country
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), Mr Tawanda Zimhunga, representing the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare told the media that registration for affected workers are still ongoing in districts across the country.
“Registration of beneficiaries is ongoing and applicants can approach the District Social Development offices at district level in their area of jurisdiction,” said Zimhunga.
According to Zimhunga shortage of social workers in Zimbabwe is contributing to delays in registration and processing of applications for potential beneficiaries as per available resources.
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) executive director, Samuel Wadzai said as the government’s initiatives are commendable, this shows that the budget allocated is not doing enough for the informal sector as it is not only sufficient but disbursed irregularly.
VISET leader Wadzai went on to encourage informal sector operators to register and formalise their operations in order to get benefits as per national databases.
Meanwhile, following extension of the lockdown with two more weeks, Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) upholds it’s stance that the informal sector must be treated as essential service and be allowed trading since they are not getting enough financial support from government.
