Women in the informal sector amid COVID-19: implications for household peace and economic stability in urban Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

This paper examines women's dynamics in the informal sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ramifications on household peace and economic stability. Sub-Saharan Africa's economic sectors are mainly informal, and women are the dominant constituents of the informal sector. Women engage in vending, cross-border trading to sustain household economic livelihoods. However, the informal sector has proved prone to public health emergencies such as cholera and dysentery and is currently reeling under COVID-19. The paper used explorative qualitative research and document analysis to gather data. The government of Zimbabwe used the lockdown as an opportunity to decongest the sprawling informal sector chocking the city pavements, and women in the informal sector felt that the lockdown measures were no longer meant to address the COVID-19 pandemic but to address challenges posed by them in the urban areas such as overcrowding. Findings show that these responses have largely impacted women, deepened their economic gender disparities, and increased food insecurity. The paper suggests the need to put household economic subsidies, social emergency plans such as monetary grants, and long-term programmes to cater to women whose families’ livelihoods depend on the informal sector, such as funding and regularisation of their businesses.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• informal sector
• economic stability
• food insecurity
• lockdown

Acknowledgments

The authors would want to thank all those involved in the study by either contributing or supporting the study’s write up.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelvin Zhanda

Kelvin Zhanda holds a BSc in Rural and Urban Planning from the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are rural and urban sustainable transformation and climate change.

Natalie Garutsa

Natalie Garutsa holds a Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. She is currently a practicing lawyer at Tandiri Law Chambers in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Her research interests are on human rights law and gender issues.

Munyaradzi A. Dzvimbo

Munyaradzi Admire Dzvimbo is a PhD candidate at the University of the Free State and the University of South Africa. He holds a Masters in Social Science in Development Studies from Lupane State University in Zimbabwe. He holds a BSc (Honours) in Development Studies from Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) and a Diploma in Education (English & History) from the University of Zimbabwe. Munyaradzi’s research interests include sustainable development, climate change, rural development, ecology, agrarian studies, environment, food security, and livelihoods.

Albert Mawonde

Albert Mawonde is a hardworking and self-motivated individual and is always excited to face new challenges in his academic and professional career. He holds a Masters in Environmental Management from the University of South Africa currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Management at the same institution. He has a strong interest in researching issues that affect people’s livelihoods regarding water-energy and food nexus. To date, he has published several articles on rural and urban resilience, livelihoods and public policy, and green universities.