Abstract
The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of Covid-19 pandemic to women entrepreneurs in the informal sector of Zimbabwe. A qualitative study was conducted in Mashonaland West province in Zimbabwe. Data was collected through telephone interviews from 16 informal business women entrepreneurs in the retail sector. The participants were involved businesses that include; vegetable vending, operating clothing flea market and cross border trading. The study established that business for women entrepreneurs in the informal sector were affected by inter-province travelling regulations. It was also established that women were most affected as they are responsible for making sure that children are fed on daily basis. To make matters worse, some were widows and others were looking after many orphans. This to a larger extent encouraged cases of strained relationship in the home because of inadequate resources especially food. Cases were also reported of gender-based violence because all members of the family were now spending most of their time together with little resources to use in looking after the family. Thus, health problems such as high blood pressure and were also witnessed. The study recommended the government to provide protective equipment and sanitizers to women entrepreneurs and informal traders so that they can safely continue to produce, distribute and sell their merchandise. The government should assist with transport for smallholder farmers to ferry their produce to markets safely. Also, the government was recommended to communicate with market leaders about how to best handle a lockdown and reopening.
Highlights
The advent of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in December 2019 was sudden and devastating in every respect
The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of Covid-19 pandemic to women entrepreneurs in the informal sector of Zimbabwe
The pandemic was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 since it has impacted the entire world population and their economies (African Union, 2020)
Summary
The advent of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in December 2019 was sudden and devastating in every respect. Throughout the globe, but in developing world, the Covid-19 pandemic threatens to cause massive disruptions in the livelihoods of the people. With an unemployment rate of over 80%, many Zimbabweans depend on informal business for survival. These informal businesses were the worst affected by the restrictions because of the pandemic. The negative impacts are more pronounced in urban set-ups where there is hardly any alternative means of survival for them. This qualitative study focuses on how the livelihoods of women entrepreneurs in the informal sector of Zimbabwe have been affected
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