by Fungai Munetsi
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) is currently implementing a Membership Revamping and Recruitment Programme across 20 of its 46 territories. This initiative kicked off in Gutu on May 17th and subsequently proceeded to Zaka on May 18th, Macheke Territory on May 22nd, and Rusape on May 22nd, 2024. Notably, the program has officially marked the establishment of Hauna and Zaka as a new territories with the hope of establishing 4 more as part of membership growth exercise for 2024.
The key objectives of this program to revive ZCIEA Territorial structures, address challenges faced by members, formulating viable solutions to overcome these issues, develop transformative initiatives from vulnerable working conditions to improved decent working conditions and attract new members. To date, a total of 235 informal workers and traders have directly engaged in the program, resulting in the recruitment of 262 new ZCIEA members.
Moving forward, ZCIEA is scheduled to conduct more Membership revamping and recruitment activities in the following territories during June and October: Goromonzi, Headlands, Gwanda, Mashava, Makado, Zvishavane Rural, Matopos, Binga, Kadoma, Sanyati, Kwekwe, Gokwe Center, Gokwe North, Nkayi, and Bindura.
Speaking about this Membership Revamping and Recruitment exercise, ZCIEA Secretary General Wisborn Malaya said Membership Revamping aligns the strategy of the organisation with members’ expectations on change and development. It also allows members to task the organisation on lobby, advocacy and programming for livelihood improvement and issues of concern. In this phase where informal work is still being criminalised and in pursuit of positive transformation of informal work, we hope to expand in building relations with local authorities and other agencies who believe in improving working conditions in the informal economy. We also encourage all workers and traders in the informal economy to belong to an organised association in order to strengthen unity of purpose.
The Program gave members opportunity to share their lived realities and propose practical solutions to challenges they face. It is unfortunate that the challenges they face continue to be recurring and the organisation is making strides to partner with other key stakeholders as a new pathway to reduce members’ vulnerability. ZCIEA will soon introduce an investment initiative to promote the sustainability of the organization and its members. This initiative involves creating investment companies where interested members can transition from vending to working within these companies.
The Chamber That Delivers
# CommunityDevelopment #NothingForUsWithoutUs