ActionAid International Southern Africa Partnership Programme (SAPP-Zimbabwe) cross border trading compared to the other areas. For more detailed statistics, refer to Appendix 6.14. No differences were noted for most vulnerable categories apart from female headed households. Twice (8%) as many female headed households were engaged in cross border trading prior to Operation Murambatsvina. This confirms reports that suggest women are major players in this sector. 3.3.2.4 Flea market Box 3: Flea Markets Bulawayo CBD – Unity Village After Operation Murambatsvina was in full swing established flea markets such as the popular Unity Village in Bulawayo city was closed. A total of 60 traders operate from vending stalls located in the village. The majority of traders in this market are women. This complex was officially opened by then Minister of Home Affairs, now Speaker of Parliament Honourable John Nkomo, in 1996. Unconfirmed reports claim that most of these traders were registered and paying levies to the city council of Bulawayo. The emergence of flea markets in the mid 1990s as a result of opening of the market resulted in an increase of flea markets in all major urban areas. Approximately, 12% of households surveyed mentioned flea markets as their primary sources of income. Our understanding of this is that some were employed to sell wears at the markets whilst some are owners of the vending stalls. Likewise in cross border trading, almost twice (18%) as many female headed households cited this as primary source of income. Other vulnerable groups recorded less than 8%, flea markets as source of income and this was very evident in child- and elderly headed households, with 3% and 2%, respectively. 3.3.2.5 Tuck-shop Tuck contribution to the welfare of households was important prior to Operation Murambatsvina accounting for 9% of the respondents. Kariba recorded the largest proportion (16%) of households that sustained themselves from either tuck shop ownership or working in a tuck shop. Tuck shops in Kariba were mainly for sale of fish. Both Harare and Mutare reported 10% of households surveyed with a primary source of income coming from tuck shops. Fewer households in Bulawayo, Beitbridge and Victoria Falls reported tuck shops as their primary sources of income with, 6%, 5% and 6%, respectively. No differences were noted for the vulnerable categories, apart from the child- and elderly headed households (3% and 0%, respectively) who had fewer. 3.3.2.6 Skilled trade/artisan Box 3: Skilled trade/artisan Harare - Glen Norah Furniture making along the highway between Glen View 8 and Budiriro was evident before Operation Murambatsvina. These informal traders had become main suppliers to some established furniture shops in Harare’s CBD. The makeshift stalls erected by owners were razed down by bulldozers. Today, the ground is bare, with no evidence of ever being a hive of activity. Statistics at hand suggest more than 100 traders were located on this open space. Currently Zimbabwe Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order National Survey Report 17