By Own Correspondent  

The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA), the national voice representing thousands of informal traders has welcomed the move by the government which saw the adoption of the Zimbabwe National Formalisation Strategy (ZNFS) together with the Zimbabwe National Employment Policy (ZNEP 2026–2030).

The ZNFS is a government framework designed to integrate the vast informal economy into the mainstream financial, regulatory, and social security systems. Approved by Cabinet, the policy focuses on simplified business registration, access to financial services, and extending social protection to informal workers.

On the other hand the ZNEP aims to formalize the economy, reduce youth unemployment, and align skills development with economic needs. It operates under the overarching goal of Vision 2030 and is coordinated alongside the National Development Strategy.

In a statement, ZCIEA said the historic policy milestone marks a decisive shift in recognising the informal economy not as a burden to be suppressed, but as a powerful driver of livelihoods, entrepreneurship, employment creation, and national economic growth.

“As a key stakeholder that actively participated in the consultations, development, and adoption of the National Formalisation Strategy, ZCIEA commends the Government of Zimbabwe for embracing a progressive and inclusive approach toward economic transformation.

“In particular, we acknowledge the important public remarks by Presidential Spokesperson Mr George Charamba, whose statements reflected a refreshing and realistic understanding of the role played by the informal economy in Zimbabwe’s development trajectory,” the organization said.

ZCIEA said for too long, the informal economic activity has been misunderstood, marginalised, and in some cases criminalised. The Government’s recognition that informality is an economic reality born out of resilience, innovation, and survival is a significant step toward building an inclusive economy that leaves no one behind.

The organization maintained that the informal economy remains the backbone of livelihoods for millions of Zimbabweans and continues to sustain communities amid economic challenges, contributing immensely to local commerce, food security, transport systems, manufacturing, and service delivery. Its recognition within national policy frameworks is therefore both timely and necessary.

ZCIEA strongly resonated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for unity, productivity, industrialisation, and shared responsibility in building Zimbabwe’s future underscoring that the informal  economy workers are not spectators in this national vision—they are active builders of the economy and indispensable partners in achieving Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2).

“We further welcome the Government’s shift away from outdated perceptions that equated informality with illegality or economic backwardness. As correctly observed, the existence of a formal economy naturally implies the existence of an informal economy. The priority, therefore, must not be exclusion or punishment, but the creation of practical pathways for integration, recognition, decent work, and inclusive growth,” added ZCIEA.