METHODOLOGY
This report is based on reports from ZPP long-term community based human rights monitors who observe,
monitor and record cases of human rights violations in the constituencies they reside. ZPP deploys a total of
420 community-based primary peace monitors (two per each of the 210 electoral constituencies of
Zimbabwe). These community-based monitors reside in the constituencies they monitor. They compile
reports that are handed over to ZPP provincial coordinators who man the different ZPP offices in the ten
administrative provinces of Zimbabwe. Upon receipt and verifications of the reports from the monitors, the
provincial coordinators compile provincial monthly monitoring reports, which are then consolidated at
national office into the ZPP monthly monitoring reports published in retrospect.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Zimbabwe continues to spiral into a crisis. The major conflict drivers being the rampant job losses
across the country, demolition of houses, deepening inter and intra party conflict, the perpetual
election mode as a result of by-elections and serious food deficits currently ravaging the country.
The Fragile States Index of 20151ranks Zimbabwe in the “high alert” category at number 100.
Zimbabwe fared badly at most of the indices which pointed at severe poverty, economic decline,
progressive deterioration of public service, violations of human rights and rise in factional fights
among other issues.
The vendor crisis stole the limelight in the month of
July. Vendors in most of the major cities such as Harare,
Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo had been issued with
notices to vacate the streets and move to designated
vending sites. On the 8th of July the Harare City Council
started the eviction of vendors from the streets and this
was met with stiff resistance by the vendors. There was
pandemonium in the city as vendors clashed with
municipal police and among themselves. Most of the
vendors interviewed by ZPP indicated that the new
designated vending sites were not ideal for business as
they were located away from their potential market.
The vendor crisis has the potential to ignite civil unrest
strife as thousands of Zimbabweans are resorting to
vending in light of the deteriorating economic
environment. The defiance demonstrated by some
vendors as they kept returning to the streets to sell
their wares point to their determination to protect their
only source of livelihood. According to the Vendors
Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation
(VISET), 173 462 vendors were displaced from CBD
areas in the month of July and goods worth $579 239.00
were confiscated by municipal police.
Figure 1: Destroyed vending stalls
1
The Fragile States Index (2015) is an annual ranking of 178 nations based on the levels of stability and the
pressures they face.
2