Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) yesterday, Wednesday 18 January 2017 supported a cascading training workshop by SOCHAMPS to fellow vendors on socio-economic rights, leadership, tools for social accountability and transparency. The workshop was attended 107 vendors from Hopley, Waterfalls, Mbudzi Round About and Ushewokunze. The training intervention is part and parcel of VISET’s Vendors Action for Constitutional Reform (VACRE) Project which was launched in September 2016. The project is anchored on the strategic mobilization of the informal sector dominated by vending, and building its capacity to demand constitutionalism by public officials.
VACRE is premised on the postulation that if the ideals of constitutionalism are adhered to, the livelihoods of vendors will improve since legislation that pertain to vending will be aligned to the constitution. It will also mean an end to the deliberate attempt by the public officials to ignore livelihood issues, which have become central to the survival of the economy and citizens. VACRE will also ensure that the government welcomes the informal sector as the new employer of young men and women.
Vendors who attended the training workshop also took a swipe at the City of Harare for refusing to take heed to calls by the VISET and other like-minded organizations to stop its violent eviction of fruit and vegetables vendors from the CBD. They urged VISET to approach the courts in order to stop the illegal evictions. VISET Executive Director assured the vendors that by 19th of January an urgent High Court application will have been submitted.
Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)