HARARE – Traders at Mupedzanhamo market have voiced deep frustration following the government’s announcement banning the sale of second-hand clothing in Central Business Districts (CBDs). The vendors say the decision threatens their only means of survival and will push many further into poverty.
Mupedzanhamo, located in Mbare, is one of the largest and busiest second-hand clothing markets in Harare. It is home to hundreds of traders who sell mabhero—bales of used clothes imported for resale. Following Monday’s announcement by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, traders say they were caught off guard and are now worried about their future.
“We are not criminals. We are parents trying to feed our children,” said a vendor who has been selling at Mupedzanhamo for over a decade. “This is the only way we can survive. Taking this away from us without any plan is not fair.”
Several vendors said they use income from selling second-hand clothes to pay school fees, buy food, and cover rent. They described the government’s decision as rushed and disconnected from the economic reality faced by ordinary Zimbabweans.
Another vendor added, “It’s not like we don’t want formal jobs. We just don’t have other options. If we don’t sell mabhero, what are we supposed to do?”
Some traders warned that the decision may have unintended consequences. “If they shut this place down, where do you think people will go? We’ll see more stealing, more drugs, more crime. People will do anything to survive,” said one trader.
The vendors also expressed concern that they were not consulted before the ban was implemented. Many said they only heard the news on social media and radio, with no official communication from the city council or market authorities.
“We are not refusing to follow rules, but we need to be included in the conversation. You can’t just wake up and shut people’s livelihoods without even talking to them,” said a woman who has been selling clothes at the market since 2010.
As of Tuesday, most vendors at Mupedzanhamo continued operating while waiting for further direction. Some said they would stay at their stalls until they were forcibly removed, while others hoped the government would reconsider its position.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains high, with traders fearing that enforcement could begin at any time without warning. For many, the ban marks more than the loss of business — it is the loss of stability, dignity, and hope.
