Vendor curfews spark resistance and selective enforcement claims

According to iHarare and NewZimbabwe.com, the government imposed 6pm curfews for CBD vendors and 8pm for residential areas, but backed down from a full clearance after resistance from traders. Accusations of selective enforcement—exempting a convicted fraudster, Wicknell Chivayo—underscore the inconsistency in crackdowns on the informal economy. The new operating hours, announced on 17 September 2026, apply nationwide and have sparked debate over the government's approach to urban vending. Critics argue that the curfews disproportionately affect small traders while allowing politically connected individuals to operate freely, highlighting the power dynamics at play in Zimbabwe's informal sector.