ZDDT recognises the informal sector's potential

Written by Lewis Jones, ZDDT Field Correspondent Monday, 28 November 2011 13:28

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – Every so often, wrong perceptions and treatment are afforded by society to the Informal Business Sector or SMEs as they should correctly be known. However, in recent times, there has been a trend throughout the International Community, to give due recognition to this vital economic player.

In acknowledgement of this important element, the Trust has factored the concept into the people friendly interventions it conducts together with Municipalities, in order to generally improve standards of living. ZDDT’s Local Authority Capacity Building Programme is testimony to this in that a component of this strategic package provides for the installation of vending shelters in Wards throughout the City. The intention behind this move is to enable informal traders to be in observance of the rule of law through appropriate land use, while at the same time, ensuring the ability to conduct their business under dignified conditions.

With these aspects in mind, Field Correspondent Lewis Jones (LJ) visited the local office of Zimbabwe’s largest vendor organisation (ZCIEA) and spoke to Mrs. Debra Mukasa (DM) the home Secretary General. The idea was to get a clearer insight into relevant developments occurring among the neighbourhood trading body.

LJ What does your Association stand for?

DM Essentially the Association’s driving concept is based on a combination of factors, the most important of these to transform the informal sector to main-stream economic activity.

LJ How do you propose to achieve this?

DM At the very onset there is the need to change laws and institutions which have, in the past, had their main focus on formal enterprise. It is also critical that the mindset associated with our sector should be changed. This will ideally have to be achieved through education and awareness in promoting a culture of organised and planned trading activity guided by good business ethics.

LJ Who may join your organisation?

DM We welcome people from any sector of society, school leavers included, who are looking for a means to earn a living in a small, independent and self-contained environment. However, it is our existing sector on which we are focusing. In this regard ZCIEA targets vendors who currently ply their trade without the benefit of a guarantee of tenure, a situation which under prevailing by laws renders them“illegal operators”. They are invited to join the Association after which, working with the Local Authority, we offer them legitimacy by securing trading licenses and designated sites from where they may conduct business.

LJ How do you view ZDDT’s intervention of providing shelters, through the City council, to residents in the Wards?

DM ZCIEA sees this as an excellent idea for various reasons;

• It offers good socio-economic benefits by providing better working conditions and a cleaner working environment.

• It acts as a subsidy to cover financial shortfalls, being experienced by the Local Authority, which under different circumstances would have to pass on the expense for the project to already over-burdened rate-payers.

Make no mistake, the Association is highly appreciative to The City of Bulawayo and ZDDT for facilitating this project and wishes to thank these  organisations for the concern they have for the improvement of living standards among our members and the public in general.