Government orders Harare vendors off streets

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe gave Harare vendors a September 9, 2026 deadline to vacate undesignated trading spots, warning of a comprehensive, zero-tolerance clean-up operation if they fail to comply. Thousands of informal traders operate from undesignated areas in Harare, and the government aims to clear them. Vendors vow to defy the order, calling it insensitive amid economic hardship. They describe the ultimatum as out of touch with harsh economic realities. The standoff highlights the government’s struggle to manage informal trade. The crackdown is part of a broader effort to restore order in urban areas.