Informal Transport Operators Turn to Wheelbarrows After Bulawayo CBD Pushcart Ban

Informal transport operators moving goods with wheelbarrows in Bulawayo CBD

Informal transport operators in Bulawayo have begun using wheelbarrows and small hand-pulled trolleys to move goods following a municipal ban on pushcarts within the city’s central business district (CBD). The ban was introduced under Statutory Instrument 220 of 2023, which prohibits pushcarts from operating in the CBD area bordered by Naison Kutshwekhaya Ndlovu Avenue, Lobengula Street, Joseph Msika Avenue, and Robert Mugabe Way. Authorities say the measure was introduced to improve order and traffic flow within the busy commercial district.

Since the regulation came into effect, municipal police officers from the Bulawayo City Council have been patrolling the CBD and impounding pushcarts found operating within the restricted zone. The enforcement has forced many informal transport operators to seek alternative ways to continue working. Some have turned to wheelbarrows and smaller hand-pulled trolleys, which they say allow them to transport goods while avoiding the risk of confiscation.

One operator, who identified himself as Mthokozisi Ndlovu, said he began using a wheelbarrow after municipal police seized his pushcart.

“They took my pushcart, and I could not afford the fines to get it back,” Ndlovu said. “I have a family to feed, so I started using a wheelbarrow because it is smaller and easier to move around without attracting too much attention from municipal police.”

Another informal transport operator, Thabiso Moyo, said many workers in the sector had been forced to quickly adapt to the new regulations in order to maintain their livelihoods. However, he noted that wheelbarrows and small trolleys are less efficient than pushcarts and often make it harder to deliver goods quickly.

Under the new by-laws, anyone found operating pushcarts within the restricted CBD area risks having their equipment impounded and may also face fines. Authorities have also warned that unlawfully removing wheel clamps or taking vehicles out of secure municipal compounds could lead to additional penalties, including fines or imprisonment. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between efforts by city authorities to regulate urban spaces and the need for informal sector workers to sustain their livelihoods.

Bulawayo pushcart ban