Vendors 4ED leader rallies informal sector behind Amendment No. 3, unveils youth mall plan

Vendors for Economic Development (Vendors 4ED) national chairperson Cde Samora Chisvo has thrown the weight of the informal sector behind the proposed Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill, arguing that constitutional reforms are essential to fully integrate millions of vendors into the formal economy and ensure they benefit from the government’s Vision 2030 agenda.

Speaking ahead of the National Youth Day commemorations, Cde Chisvo emphasized that the amendment, which seeks to extend the term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to 2030, is a necessary lever for policy continuity.

He claimed this stability is critical for informal traders to transition from the margins of the economy into mainstream players capable of contributing to the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

“We cannot talk about an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 while leaving behind the millions who drive the informal sector. Constitutional Amendment Number 3 is not just about politics; it is about ensuring that the developmental trajectory we are on under President Mnangagwa remains uninterrupted so that vendors can finally be incorporated as key beneficiaries of NDS2,” Cde Chisvo said.

He argued that the formal economy has traditionally overlooked the vending community, and that extending the current administration’s tenure would guarantee the implementation of long-term programs designed to capacitate informal traders.

“We want to thank His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for the Presidential Empowerment Schemes. We now need the constitutional backing to ensure these schemes outlive electoral cycles and become permanent pillars of our economy,” he added.

In a robust defense of the informal sector’s role in national development, he added, “President Emmerson Mnangagwa also supports vendors. We are the engine of this economy, and we demand a seat at the table.”

In line with the National Youth Day celebrations, Cde Chisvo announced an ambitious plan to establish youth vendor malls across all provinces by the end of the year.

The initiative aims to decongest city streets while providing young traders with dignified, formalized trading spaces equipped with infrastructure that supports value addition.

“We are pushing for youth vendor malls to be established countrywide by end of year. The youth are tired of running from council police; they want spaces where they can operate like real businesspeople.

These malls will be the launchpads for young vendors to become industrialists under NDS2,” he said.

The proposed malls are expected to include storage facilities, sanitation, and access to financial services, aligning with the Second Republic’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind.”

Under Cde Chisvo’s leadership, Vendors 4ED has overseen the registration of over 150,000 informal traders nationwide, providing them with identification documents that facilitate access to microfinance facilities.

His tenure has also seen the establishment of bulk-buying schemes that allow vendors to procure goods directly from manufacturers, cutting out intermediaries and increasing profit margins. Additionally, his leadership has successfully lobbied for the suspension of vending license fees in several local authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, preserving livelihoods for thousands of informal traders.

He said the establishment of youth vendor malls represents the culmination of these efforts to formalize the sector and align it with Vision 2030 objectives.