Informal Economy creates Business linkage with Formal Economy
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations through National Policy Framework for Informal Economy has been advocating for appropriate government policies that facilitate the development of synergies/linkages between Informal economy and formal businesses. Even though the government is yet to develop a policy that facilitates the development of linkages between the informal economy and formal businesses, ZCIEA Harare territorial women’s group managed to create supply linkage with a big formal institution (name withheld). This women’s group (12 members) received funds from the ZCIEA Resilience Building program to initiate projects of their choice. They decided to do a poultry project. They kicked off their project with 250 broilers, which grew well and reached 4 weeks without complications.
ZCIEA Responding to COVID-19 Effects -Providing Food Hampers Support to its Worst Vulnerable Members across the country
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) has embarked on a food support program by distributing Food Hampers to its worst vulnerable members countrywide. The program started on the 19th of June 2021 and is targeting a total of 460 worst affected members across 46 Territories in the country.
The goods in supply are valued at US$5 000,00.
‘A new path to a stable economy’ Formalization of the informal economy
In response to the grievances of Informal workers, ZCIEA developed a policy document on formalizing Informal economy activities. It is therefore crucial that our members are enlightened and educated on formalization which feeds into National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030. Despite the challenges encountered by the informal economy workers, formalization can actually be a key lever for reframing and support the human rights of the vulnerable informal economy workers. The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy conducted online membership awareness training on seven thematic areas of formalization from the 14th to the 16th of June 2021. The seven aspects or themes the facilitators touched on for the training included Respect for and Recognition of the informal, Development of Linkages between the informal economy and formal businesses, Market Access and Infrastructure, Formalization, Financial Inclusion, Social Protection an Devolution. The training covered 12 territories namely, from Chitungwiza, Marondera, Bulawayo, Harare, Chinhoyi, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Karoi, Gwanda, Mutare, Rusape and Chivhu, each territory consisting of 15 ZCIEA members. In a period of 3 days 180 (102 women, 34 men, 36 Youth & 8 PWD) members were equipped with knowledge on what formalization is and its impact on them as informal traders and workers.
ZCIEA / StreetNet Int President Lorraine Sibanda Ndhlovu advocates for Universal Social Protection for All
On the 11th and 15th of June 2021, ZCIEA National President/ StreetNet International President Lorraine Sibanda Ndhlovu addressed the 109th Session of the International Labour Conference (#ILC2021) where she advocated for universal Social Protection for all, social dialogue with workers in the informal economy, and progressive and sustainable financing of social protection that is inclusive
The future is female through the Movement and leadership building by ZCIEA
Between August and December 2020, ZCIEA held series of leadership training for women including those in grassroots which saw a total of 98 ZCIEA Women Leaders being empowered. The training targeted women from territorial presidents, women structures, people with disabilities structures, and youth structures across all the 42 territories (Bindura, Chitungwiza, Chiredzi/Triangle, Gutu, Hwange, Gwanda, Gokwe Center, Gokwe North, Harare, Marondera, Macheke, Mutare, Chipinge, Kadoma, Sanyati, Beitbridge, Kariba, Victoria Falls, Bindura, Chivhu, Kwekwe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Binga, Plumtree, Lupane, Karoi, Masvingo, Tsholotsho, Chinhoyi, Guruve, Mt Darwin, Rusape, Chimanimani, Mashava, Zvishavane, Zhombe, Chegutu, Caledonia, Norton, Nkayi, Mhondoro) in the country.
ZCIEA Rusape Women Resilience Program yields success
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations embarked on a resilience-building program to assist women members who were affected by COVID-19 lockdown effects in 2020.
Minister acknowledges the important role played by the informal economy
The grey economy has been perceived negatively for the past years and has been acting as a shadow economy. ZCIEA has become the voice to the hopeless and underrated informal workers through its 5 pillars: organizing, educating, empowering, advocating, and representing.
ZCIEA Press Statement on 30-Day lockdown by the Government of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA), is deeply concerned with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and devastated by the loss of lives (including informal economy workers and traders) in the world due to this global pandemic.
ZCIEA partners Gwanda local Authority in the Fight against Gender-based violence
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations intensifies its Campaign against Gender-based violence and harassment through a partnership with Gwanda Municipality 16 Days of Activism Gwanda District launch on the 1st of December 2020.
ZCIEA STATEMENT OF CONCERN ON CONTINUED CRIMINALISATION OF INFORMAL TRADERS
105 vendors arrested in Rusape for vending
Informal economy workers and traders are still being criminalized in Zimbabwe and this led to high incidents of brutal evictions of vendors from their workplaces, arrests, and confiscation of goods by Zimbabwe Republic Police and Municipal Police.