Government has issued a final warning to illegal vendors operating in Harare and other urban centres, giving them until September 9, 2026, to vacate undesignated trading sites before a nationwide zero-tolerance clean-up operation begins.
In a press statement, released yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe, said the operation was necessary to restore order, improve urban sanitation and protect public safety amid the proliferation of informal trading in the Central Business District and across the Harare Metropolitan Province.
“Whilst the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe acknowledges the existence of informal trading as a recognised avenue of livelihood, this, however, should be within the bounds of municipal by-laws and at legally designated marketplaces,” he said.
The current state of disorderliness on the streets is not tolerable. The conduct of illegal vendors has become a threat to the health and security of our nation, creating a home for drug and substance abuse among other ills,” Minister Garwe added.
The minister said illegal vending had severely affected the functioning of the capital by obstructing pedestrian pathways, creating congestion and compromising sanitation and health standards.
“All vendors engaging in illegal street and night trading have until Wednesday, September 9, 2026, to immediately vacate these unauthorised sites and relocate to lawful, designated vending markets provided by the local authority,” Minister Garwe said.
He warned that Government would take decisive action against those who failed to comply with the directive.
“Starting Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies will launch a comprehensive, zero-tolerance clean-up operation targeting illegal vending sites across Harare and the broader Harare Metropolitan Province.
During this operation, all illegal vending structures, stalls and sites will be completely disbanded. Municipal police will remain deployed to ensure that cleared areas are not re-occupied,” he said.
Garwe urged informal traders to use the remaining period to move voluntarily to appointed markets to avoid losing their merchandise during enforcement operations.
He also directed local authorities to help the immediate registration and orderly placement of compliant traders into designated structures.
Following the Harare operation, Government plans to extend the exercise to cities, towns, and other urban settlements nationwide as part of efforts to restore public order and cleanliness in line with the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.
