Abstract
Informality has been viewed as the seedbed for economic development especially in the cities of the global South and many cities have been trying to integrate this sector for economic development. The sector has been seen as the option for economic development in cities of the global South in the face of dwindling resources for economic development. However, the development and growth of informal activities in some of these cities have been stunted by institutional reforms that have taken so long to accommodate such activities. Most of the cities have acknowledged the need to integrate informality in their economies but they have remained illusioned by the neo-liberal urbanisation policies that have kept the informal activities on the periphery of the development agenda. As a result the role of informal sector in economic development in cities of the global South has not been fully realised. The study was taken to examine the institutional impediments in the growth of informal activities in the city of Masvingo, to see how the laws and policies of the city have been applied for the integration of informal sector in the main stream economy. The research found out that there are institutionalised systems that disenfranchise the informal sector in the city of Masvingo. These institutions include the planning approach and the way the city has been practicing their planning. These two institutions have been the chief disenfranchising instruments that have denied the people in the informal sector their right to the city. The research utilised a mixed methods approach to the inquiry, where both qualitative and quantitative data were used. The research found that there is space for informal integration in the city of Masvingo, but the existing regulatory framework is stifling the growth and development of the informal sector in the city of Masvingo. There is therefore need for the city to be flexible enough to embrace the realities of the city, because informality is really the new form of urbanisation in cities of the global South.
Highlights
Background to the studyCities of the global South are dynamic places where transformation is the result of political, economic, social and spatial processes
Informality has been growing in importance in cities of the global South but is giving livelihoods to urban dwellers even in the global North
The growing importance of the informal sector is calling for integration of the sector into the main stream economy
Summary
Cities of the global South are dynamic places where transformation is the result of political, economic, social and spatial processes. It calls for the city to have another look on such pieces of legislation so as to create enabling environments for the operation of informal activities in the city and the integration of the sector in the mainstream economy In this way they will be giving these people their rights to the city because there is no right to the city without rights to the city centre (Lefebvre 1996). The informal sector in their cities have been supported just like the formal sector because the informal sector in these countries have been the major players in employment creation (Yaw 2007; Devey et al 2007) In this way cities will be planning for inclusive city by catering for a wide range of urban inhabitants including the marginalised and vulnerable groups of the society. This augers well with human right and with environmental justice
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
