20 July 2026 | Harare, Zimbabwe
The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) is honoured to announce its acceptance of an invitation from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) to serve on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Thematic Working Group, a multi-stakeholder platform established in terms of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act to strengthen the promotion, protection and fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights in Zimbabwe.
VISET is deeply humbled by the confidence that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has placed in our organisation by including us among a distinguished group of government institutions, civil society organisations, professional bodies and development partners tasked with advising on social and cultural rights. This appointment is not only a recognition of our work over the years but also an affirmation that the voices and lived experiences of informal economy workers are indispensable in shaping Zimbabwe’s human rights agenda.
As an organisation representing thousands of informal economy workers across Zimbabwe, VISET has consistently advocated for the protection of livelihoods, decent work, social protection, access to healthcare, education, markets, public services and meaningful participation in governance. For the millions of Zimbabweans who earn their living in the informal economy, economic and social rights are not abstract constitutional principles—they are the foundation of dignity, opportunity and sustainable livelihoods.
Our participation in the ESCR Thematic Working Group comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe advances the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the National Formalisation Strategy, and broader efforts to promote inclusive and rights-based development. We believe that human rights should remain central to economic transformation and public policy, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Through the Thematic Working Group, VISET will contribute practical evidence and policy recommendations drawn from communities across the country. We will advocate for:
- Recognition and protection of informal economy workers’ economic and social rights.
- Expanded access to social protection, healthcare, education and decent public services.
- Inclusive economic policies that promote sustainable livelihoods and decent work.
- Participatory governance that enables citizens, particularly vulnerable and marginalised groups, to meaningfully influence decisions affecting their lives.
- Stronger accountability mechanisms that uphold constitutional rights and human dignity.
VISET also looks forward to collaborating with fellow members of the Thematic Working Group, including government ministries, professional associations, academia, labour organisations, civil society and international partners. Lasting solutions to Zimbabwe’s development challenges require dialogue, partnership and a shared commitment to constitutionalism and human rights. We commend the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for creating this collaborative platform and reaffirm our commitment to constructive engagement, evidence-based advocacy and principled leadership in advancing economic, social and cultural rights.
Together, we can build a Zimbabwe where every citizen enjoys equal dignity, equal opportunity and equal protection under the Constitution.
“Human rights are not only about freedoms—they are also about the dignity of work, the security of livelihoods, and the opportunity for every citizen to participate fully in the social and economic life of the nation.”
