Impact of Street Vendors’ Eviction from Harare Central Business District (CBD)

This study aimed at gathering information on the impact of street vendor’s eviction from the Harare Central Business District (CBD). Quantitative methodology was used to gather data. The main objectives of the study were to identify factors that promote street vending, find out surviving strategies for evicted street vendors and identify ways in which government assisted the ex-street vendors. A chi-square test was used to find out if there was any difference in standard of living on street vendors after their eviction. Significant level was tested at 0.05%. The results showed that there is association between standard of living before and after street vendors’ eviction. There were various factors that influenced people‘s choice of vending location. The results showed that unemployment among others constituted 40% and was the highest contributor towards street vending. Theories in support of the topic were adopted to get insights into the issues of street vendors’ eviction. Based on survey results, the study showed that for street vendors, accessibility of customers was a key consideration and they strategically located on the streets to avoid formalization costs such as rent, taxes and licence. The study showed that despite numerous constraints placed on various groups of street vendors these groups had actually developed survival and resistance strategies that enabled them to maintain their livelihoods from public urban space. Revival of industries is a cause for concern. There is need to resuscitate industries to curb the problem of unemployment.