THE National Vendors’ Union of Zimbabwe (NVUZ) says it has engaged residents and youth associations to help lobby Parliament to pass the proposed Street Vendors’ (Protection of Livelihoods) Bill.
VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
NVUZ director Samuel Wadzai told NewsDay yesterday that they had also courted two MPs to assist in the campaign.
“We are in the process of engaging lawmakers, Biata Nyamupinga (Goromonzi West MP, Zanu PF) and Lucia Matibenga (Kuwadzana MP, MDC-T), to get other legislators to appreciate what is envisaged in the draft Bill so that when they advocate for its debate before Parliament other MPs will support it,” Wadzai said.
“We will also share this draft Bill with residents’ associations and youth organisations to get their backing on the proposed law for vending activities because vendors are residents and youths are the biggest constituency involved in vending activities due to high unemployment rates.”
Nyamupinga chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development while Matibenga is a member of the committee.
Recently, the two legislators introduced a motion in Parliament to discuss harassment of female vendors by municipal police, and during debate they advocated for government to legalise vending through an Act of Parliament.
“Around 80% of the Zimbabwean population is affected by unemployment. Youths and women are affected and we have organised workshops with the youths, the Combined Harare Residents’ Association and Chitungwiza Residents’ Association to discuss the Bill before we finally present it to Parliament. We will also be approaching mayors of different cities to discuss issues of vending activities and to discuss the proposed Bill,” he said.
