Vendors, file pic
Nyasha Marumbi
MASVINGO – Vendors in Masvingo have demanded that the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) must work to ensure their safety against harassment by the city council officials and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The demands were made at a Zimbabwe Chambers of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) workshop held at Mucheke Hall recently.
Addressing the informal sector business operators, ZCIEA secretary general Wisbon Malaya made it clear that vendors would resist current suggestions that they make contributions to the authority unless they secure the freedom to do their work without hindrances.
“As vendors, we are declaring today that we are not going to pay a penny to NASSA or join their funeral policy until they make sure that we are granted security in the city just like other businesses,” Malaya said.
Malaya also claimed that 94 percent of workers in Zimbabwe were sweating it out in the informal economy, and argued that the enormous size of that sector made it obligatory for authorities to treat vendors with respect.
Most participants agreed with Malaya, promising not to cooperate with NSSA as long as they keep on getting harassed by authorities.
Other people later told TellZim News that NSSA was so tainted by corruption that they will not entrust their hard-earned money to it given the endless reports of misuse of funds and maladministration at the State-run social security agency.
Collen Chikova, a NSSA representative who was present at the ZCIEA workshop, promised to take the grievances of the informal traders to his superiors.local
