Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Associations is a membership organization that was formed in 2002. This was a direct response to the collapse of formal setups as a result of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme in the early 1990s. Company closures, retrenchments, and the inability of formal structures to absorb the job seekers gave rise to the massive expansion of the Informal Economy. On seeing the continued marginalization of this sector which lacks social protection and Income security a group of 22 Informal Business Associations came together to form ZCIEA in the year 2002. This organization works with informal economy workers and traders who engage in different economic activities across the country, and currently, it has 46 territories across the 10 provinces. It also has women, youth, and persons with disabilities structures. ZCIEA’s Vision is Decent Standards of Living for all Zimbabweans in a stable economy and the mission is Alleviating Poverty through Transforming Informal Economy Activities into Mainstream Activities. The organization works under a 5 pillar approach of organise, educating, empowering, advocating, and representing. The main objectives are: – To organize, establish, promote and protect the interest of the informal economy traders in Zimbabwe.
– To foster the democratization of the environment through rights awareness,
lobby and advocacy programs targeting the rank and file of the
Informal Economy Workers.
-To influence policy formations that will bring about social and economic
change whilst providing for the transformation of the Informal Economy
activities in Zimbabwe and beyond.