ON many occasions after the aborted International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic structural adjustment programmes, Zanu PF government went populistic as a power retention strategy.
Thirty years later, the country is stuck with the reality — you can’t be vending to get into upper middle-income status.
Zimbabwe had become chiefly lawless as a country.
Carrying a party membership card was a passport to do as one pleases, be it resettling themselves on commercial farms, building houses on urban land without council approvals, vending in the central business districts of towns, create bus stops and operate mishika-shika (unregistered commuter operators) and even helping themselves to council properties.
Zanu PF had become everything. It was both party and State.
Its policies or rally pronouncements were the law.
Holding the party card was a passport to nearly everything ahead of any other citizen.
The party through the Local Government Board appointed all senior council executives.
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They were party men and women.
They had to put aside their thinking caps and implement party policies without questions.
Enterprising young party members even created some structures affiliated to the party to shield their nefarious activities.
They have Miners4ED, Vendors4ED, Mahwindi4ED, Teachers4ED, Young Women4ED, etc.
Members of these associations had a free run on artisanal mining, vending in central business districts (CBDs), running the illegal commuter operations and everything else without following procedures.
This may be coming to a temporary halt.
Zanu PF is synonymous with failure to implement hard decisions or in political terms unpopular decisions.
This week, a rare moment of lucidity in the party, the party wants to deal with illegal vending in urban areas and vendors have to be driven from CBDs kicking and screaming.
Local Government minister Daniel Garwe had to convene a special conference to convey the message to Zimbabweans.
The minister bemoaned the menace of illegal vending and its associated vices.
He further gave a 48-hour ultimatum to vendors to move out of CBDs or the security forces would be unleashed unto them.
Said Gawe: “The government has noted with great concern the proliferation of illegal vendors in central business districts and surrounding areas in cities and towns across the country, particularly the influx of night vendors, which has created serious health, safety and security concern.
“In light of these issues, the government has mandated all local authorities to clear vendors from unregistered locations within 48 hours.
“During this operation, local authorities will be supported by law enforcement agents to ensure the maintenance of law and order.”
The statement is loaded. It may be important to unpack it. In unpacking it, three phrases stand out: “security concern, the government has mandated and this operation.”
Zanu PF is worried sick about the security situation, which can be read as hold on power and it has given local authorities the power to deal with this menace through an operation supported by security forces.
What could be the worrying security situation?
This could be linked to war veteran and expelled Zanu PF central committee member Blessed “Bombshell” Geza threats of rolling mass protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Uncontrolled vending may give cover to sporadic and spontaneous protests in towns.
This could cause mayhem and bring business to a grinding halt.
It is reminiscent of August 1, 2018 demonstration, where six unarmed civilians were gunned down in cold blood and bringing the spotlight on Mnangagwa and his regime.
The government does not want a repeat of this and is, therefore, taking pre-emptive action.
That is the political angle.
The other view is government wants to save large retailers from total collapse and bringing the economy into comatose.
Any further disturbances to the formal economy are a death knell on the regime.
It makes Mnangagwa’s 2030 agenda illusive.
Another interesting view is that local authorities have no power to regulate activities within their jurisdictions except with clear mandates from central government.
It was an unintended revelation that the Zanu PF government makes local authorities dysfunctional by withdrawing mandates.
A clear case comes to mind when Harare City Council wanted to demolish all illegal structures in the capital.
There was an outcry and lo and behold, the central government stopped the operation.
Cleaning up cities and enforcing regulations is unpopular.
This is the dilemma Mnangagwa faces, throwing away support from the illegal operators who increased Zanu PF support by bringing in 4ED affiliates or bringing order and conducive economic environment for formal businesses.
Will the capture of Geza mark the stopping of the operation?
It could possibly if the only threat Mnangagwa fears is losing political power.
However, if it is the fear of economic collapse, then Zimbabwe is now on unchartered territory — cleansing a whole generation (30 years) of populism.
Mnangagwa has two options.
Firstly, to remain populistic and chant “make money” to Zimbabweans whichever way or secondly, take an unpopular decision to bring order and sanity in urban areas and the economy to create a stable platform for economic growth.
The second option will make him unpopular and end his political career, but future generations will thank him for bringing order and stability.
His 2030 supporters will be disappointed and will have to reinvent themselves politically.
However, the big question remains: Does Mnangagwa care for posterity or just care for the present?
This is the question that will jolt him to pick one decision over the other.
Ironically, Garwe, who calls for order, is one of the chief proponents of the ED2030 agenda.
It remains to be seen if this call is for political expediency or genuine reform of our economy and order in urban areas.
Even if Mnangagwa and his regime kicks the proverbial can down the road, the reality is someone pragmatic and decisive will have to make the unpopular decision to bring back order in our cities.
A Rudi Gulliani like politician minus the ultra-rightwing politics.
Informal economy has to die, but who kills it?
That is the curse of politics of populism.
