National Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) is shocked by the comments attributed to Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko regarding people who are into vending. It is alleged that while addressing Zanu-PF supporters at provincial party headquarters at Davies Hall on Sunday Vice Mphoko made comments to the effect that men who engage in vending are lazy.
The Vice President is quoted as having said, “I have got my own views regarding vending where you find
an able-bodied man seated selling tomatoes.
There are better things to do for someone who is fit except for those who are indisposed and physically-challenged,”
Whilst NAVUZ could not independently verify the authenticity of the statement, we however felt compelled to respond since the Vice President is yet to publicly distance himself from the comments attributed to him.
The comments are very unfortunate and ill-informed as they lack an appreciation of the prevailing economic circumstances in Zimbabwe.
The Vice President Mphoko should be reminded that, the majority of men are into vending not by choice but because there are no jobs in the country. Surely do we need to remind the Vice President that with more than 90% unemployment rate, it means that only a fraction of the estimated 13 million people is formally employed, roughly over a million if we
are to go with the estimates? Every year, close to more than 5 000 people graduate in Zimbabwe from state universities, poly techs, nursing school, teachers colleges, apprenticeships to name but a few and all these people are expecting to be part of that 10%.
One needs not to apply any special thinking to know that the opportunities are extremely limited and oversubscribed hence vending naturally becomes an option.
NAVUZ finds Vice President Mpkoko’s statement very disheartening to say the least. It is high time people like Vice President Mphoko come to the full realization that, as long as the government and all its agencies fail to address
the fundamentals, vendors and vending is here to stay. We urge Vice President Mphoko to stop fighting vendors who are genuinely trying to earn a living but instead assist them to get organized, formalised and eventually legalized.
– NATIONAL VENDORS UNION ZIMBABWE -INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT
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