The Experiences of female illegal street vendors in surviving municipal police raids in Bindura CBD · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Address, Kudakwashe.

Title

The Experiences of female illegal street vendors in surviving municipal police raids in Bindura CBD

Abstract

This study aims at the lived experiences of female illegal street vendors in dealing with municipal police raids in the streets of Bindura, CBD. This was motivated by the exclusion of female illegal street vendors who sell in the streets of Bindura from economic, political, social, and environmental spheres. The study was guided by three objectives which include identifying challenges encountered by female illegal street vendors working on the streets of Bindura, examining coping mechanism adopted by female illegal street vendors working on the streets of Bindura in response to challenges they encounter and identifying interventions that can be employed to assist vendors working on the streets of Bindura. Qualitative research method was used with interpretative phenomenology being the research design. The researcher used semi structured interviews to collect data for both primary participants and key informant. Convenience sampling method for primary participants and purposive sampling method for key informants was used in the study. Data saturation guided the sample size that is eight participants for primary participants and three key informants. The study employed the interpretative phenomenological analysis in analyzing data. The study findings revealed that challenges female illegal street vendors are facing, such as limited formal work, limited access to loans among other challenges, are attributed to economic challenges and discrimination. Research respondents brought to light the coping strategy they employ in trying to solve the issues they encounter like personal savings, ISALS etc. Some of the interventions that were mentioned by the participants include empowerment, creation of support groups, banks specifically for female sellers among others which were suggested below. The researcher recommends to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, NGOs and local government authorities that they should intensify the enforcement of policy and programmes that encourages the involvement of female vendors in matters that affect their lives. To social work practice, there is a necessity to form support groups for female street vendors who are working on the streets of Bindura.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Street Vendors

Municipal Police Raids

Supervisor

Mr. Magocha,