The current lockdown has been especially hard on Zimbabwe’s informal sector. The government has not helped matters by completely ignoring the sector when introducing Covid-19 measures this is despite the fact that Zimbabwe’s informal sector is the largest. Some enterprising members of the sector have however found savvy ways to help them continue to make sales. They have turned their flashy cars into mobile shops driving slowly through various suburbs hawking their ways.

Even some flashy Mercedes Benz cars are now mobile shops

To be fair this is not a new practice. Mobile car restaurants operating from car boots are quite popular in Harare especially near industrial areas, colleges and the University of Zimbabwe. However, ever since the president extended the lockdown period indefinitely there has been a surge in the number of car vendors both in the CBD and in various suburbs. Often these vendors also sell in various WhatsApp groups and on Facebook, offering delivery to customers who cannot come to town.