The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) welcomes the Harare Investment Dialogue 2026 and the unveiling of the City of Harare’s US$4.29 billion investment portfolio by His Worship, Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume.

We commend the City of Harare for taking bold steps to attract investment into critical sectors including water and sanitation, renewable energy, transport infrastructure, urban mobility, real estate development, and other strategic areas essential for the modernization and renewal of Zimbabwe’s capital city. The commitment by the City leadership to embrace public-private partnerships and mobilize private sector investment demonstrates a forward-looking approach to addressing infrastructure deficits, improving service delivery, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating economic growth.

As an organization representing informal economy workers and advocating for inclusive urban development, VISET believes that the success of Harare’s investment agenda will ultimately be measured not only by the value of capital attracted but also by its impact on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary residents, particularly the millions who derive their income from the informal economy. The informal economy remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s urban economy, providing employment and income opportunities for the majority of citizens. We therefore urge the City of Harare to ensure that the informal economy is recognized as a strategic sector within the city’s investment and development framework.

Specifically, we call upon the City to:

• Invest in modern, safe, and affordable market infrastructure for vendors and informal traders across the city.
• Integrate informal traders into transport interchange developments, smart city projects, and urban regeneration initiatives.
• Prioritize the development of designated trading spaces, storage facilities, sanitation infrastructure, and access to clean water for informal economy workers.
• Facilitate access to affordable renewable energy solutions for market spaces and small informal businesses.
• Ensure meaningful consultation and participation of informal economy organizations in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of investment projects.
• Promote inclusive public-private partnerships that create opportunities for informal enterprises and local small businesses to participate in value chains generated by major infrastructure projects.
• Develop policies that support the formalization and growth of informal enterprises through capacity building, access to finance, and simplified regulatory frameworks.

VISET believes that a truly prosperous and competitive Harare is one that leaves no one behind. The city’s investment drive presents a unique opportunity to build an inclusive urban economy where infrastructure development, service delivery, and economic growth benefit both large-scale investors and grassroots entrepreneurs.

We therefore encourage the City of Harare, Government, investors, development finance institutions, and private sector partners to view the informal economy not as a challenge to be managed, but as a critical economic sector that must be supported, integrated, and empowered.

As VISET, we stand ready to engage constructively with the City of Harare and all stakeholders to ensure that the investment agenda contributes to decent work, sustainable livelihoods, inclusive growth, and the transformation of Harare into a modern, resilient, and people-centred city.

Issued by:

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)