EXPOSED: Government Forces Vendors to Open Bank Accounts While Million-Dollar Looters Remain Untouched
Double Standards in Zimbabwe’s Financial Crackdown?
Harare, Zimbabwe – In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, the Zimbabwean government has issued a directive forcing informal vendors to open bank accounts and adopt Point of Sale (POS) machines for all transactions. This mandate, supposedly aimed at boosting tax compliance and financial transparency, raises critical questions: Why are small-scale traders being aggressively targeted while politically connected individuals implicated in massive corruption scandals remain untouched?
The hypocrisy is glaring. While vendors—who earn a living selling fruits, vegetables, and second-hand clothes—are now required to submit to strict financial regulations, individuals like Wicknell Chivayo, known for flaunting stacks of US dollars and securing multi-million-dollar government contracts without accountability, continue to operate with impunity.
A New Burden on Vendors, A Free Pass for the Elite
Announced by Information Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the new policy dictates that all informal traders must open bank accounts upon registration and adopt electronic transactions as part of the formal economy. The government argues that this will improve tax collection, but critics see it as another way to target the struggling poor while the politically connected rich remain untouchable.
Currently, local authorities are responsible for licensing vendors, but under the new system, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) will play a central role in ensuring compliance with tax laws. A Domestic Inter-agency Team is also being established to crack down on non-compliant vendors, raising fears of harassment and arbitrary arrests.
Yet, while vendors are being policed, no such enforcement exists for high-profile figures accused of looting millions from state coffers.
Selective Law Enforcement: Why No Scrutiny for Chivayo and Other Elites?
Zimbabweans are still reeling from revelations of high-profile corruption cases, where individuals like Wicknell Chivayo have been linked to controversial multi-million-dollar deals. Chivayo, a known ZANU-PF associate, has publicly flaunted massive wads of cash in a country where ordinary citizens are required to justify deposits as low as US$1,000.
Key Questions the Government Must Answer:
1. Why are vendors being forced into formal banking systems while individuals caught on camera counting millions in cash face no financial scrutiny?
2. Why are looters of public funds not being investigated under the same financial transparency rules?
3. How does forcing vendors to open bank accounts address the real economic crisis caused by corruption and mismanagement?
The silence from authorities is deafening. Despite past scandals and public outrage, Chivayo and other politically connected elites continue to operate without any requirement to disclose the sources of their massive wealth. Meanwhile, street vendors struggling to make ends meet are being hounded by financial regulations that seem designed to oppress rather than empower.
A War on the Poor?
This latest move fits into a broader pattern of the Zimbabwean government targeting the most vulnerable members of society while shielding those in power. Instead of addressing real economic issues such as inflation, corruption, and unemployment, authorities have opted to police the informal sector, which provides livelihoods for millions.
Experts warn that forcing vendors into the banking system without addressing the root causes of economic decay—corruption, policy inconsistency, and lack of investor confidence—will only push more people into extreme poverty.
What Happens Next?
With vendors now required to comply with electronic payment systems and formal banking, enforcement measures will likely lead to increased harassment from police and municipal authorities, who have a long history of cracking down on informal traders.
The real question is: Will the same energy be applied to investigating and prosecuting those responsible for looting the country’s wealth? If history is any indicator, the answer is a resounding no.
For now, Zimbabwean vendors must brace for yet another government policy that punishes the poor while protecting the powerful. The fight for justice continues.
Have Your Say:
Do you think the government’s policy is fair? Should high-profile individuals like Wicknell Chivayo also be forced to open bank accounts and declare their financial dealings? Share your thoughts!