Indefinite Lockdown Threatens Informal Sector

The Zimbabwe government’s extending of lockdown restrictions indefinitely further threatens the incomes of many households who depend on the informal sector, USAID food security arm, FEWS NET has said. In its new May update, FEWS NET said:

In mid-May, the government indefinitely extended some restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 while reviewing the measures every two weeks.

Under the restrictions, national borders remain closed except for essential formal imports and returning citizens. Privately-owned transport services, inter-city, and rural-urban public transport remain banned.

While formal businesses are allowed to re-open, restrictions on the informal sector continue. Many urban households relying on the informal sector have seen a significant decrease or complete loss of this income source.

On May 16, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced an indefinite extension of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, with businesses in the formal sector allowed to re-open on the condition that they put measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus.

However, the informal sector remains banned when an estimated 70% of the economy relies on this sector.

More: NewsDay