President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed regional and local government leaders to stop using force against small traders operating on the streets and instead develop practical plans to move them into designated trading areas.
The President said confiscating traders’ goods, beating them or using municipal enforcement officers to intimidate them was not a sustainable solution to the challenge of street trading.
She made the remarks on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Tunguu State House in Zanzibar while addressing newly appointed government leaders after their swearing-in.
President Samia said the government had invested in building markets, but small traders were increasingly returning to the streets, requiring authorities to address the underlying challenges rather than relying on punitive measures.
“Let us manage them, not by beating them with sticks using municipal guards, confiscating their goods or kicking them. No. We need proper plans that will enable them to return to the markets,” she said.
The President's comments come amid continuing efforts by local authorities to regulate informal trading and keep streets and public spaces orderly, while also protecting the livelihoods of small-scale traders.
She urged councils to increase investment in market infrastructure, stressing that local governments also have a responsibility to provide appropriate spaces for people to conduct business.
“Councils should make efforts to build more markets. Not every market in your councils will be built by the government. You are also the government,” she said.
President Samia's directive effectively calls for a shift from enforcement-led approaches towards better planning, adequate trading spaces and cooperation between local authorities and small businesses.
She also instructed the leaders to strengthen sanitation in their respective areas, warning that poor hygiene could contribute to the spread of diseases, including cholera.
“Go and ensure cleanliness in your areas. Cleanliness is everything. Through cleanliness, you will eliminate diseases, including cholera,” she said.
The President said major towns and cities should not be allowed to become dirty, urging leaders to make cleanliness a continuous responsibility rather than an occasional campaign.
The directives place local authorities at the centre of efforts to create orderly trading environments while ensuring that small traders can continue earning a living without facing unnecessary harassment.