Treat Informal Sector As Essential Service~ VISET
Ronald Chigwada
Vendors Initiative For Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) say the government’s imposed lockdown has hit hard on their livelihoods, as vendors are unable to earn a living without trading.
Speaking to CORAH, VISET communications officer Jabulani Chikomwe said currently a few fruit and vegetables markets are open with limited number of traders, whilst movement for vendors has been curtailed with the requirement of exemption letters.
“Compounding the situation is lack of any intervention to cushion traders despite many pronouncements by government ministers that such would be availed. We appeal to the authorities to treat the informal sector as an essential service as we provide cheaper alternatives for products sold by established retailers as well as being situated in convenient locations for the purchasing public”, said Chikomwe.In a survey a lot of vendors noted that the government must begin to think of the informal sector as a critical cog of the national economy as the sector provides 90 percent of jobs and contributes over 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product.
