Informal traders have begun registering or confirming registration and are readying their stalls after the government announced the COVID-19 guidelines the informal sector has to adhere to for the resumption of activities.
Traders at Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo flea market are already registered by paying fees to the council but now have to fix up the market as well.
Speaking to The Herald on Monday, Chairman of Mupedzanhamo Traders Committee Charles Marufu revealed that traders expect to be back at work next week. He said:
We are already registered. We were already paying money to the council and that has not changed.
We engaged the council informing them of our intention to reopen and they gave us conditions, which we are in the process of satisfying.
We were told to fix precast walls, which were vandalised, and we are almost done with that then we engage them for inspection and subsequent reopening.
Archford Manjoro, the Mbare retail market committee said traders have registered with the Harare City Council and were dedicating this whole week to cleaning.
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) vice president Stella Chivandikwa encouraged players in the sector to register in compliance with Government’s precondition for the resumption of business.