Governance in the Marketplace: Legitimacy, Informality, and the Politics of Space in Bulawayo

This project seeks to examine the socio-economic and political dynamics of informal vending in Bulawayo’s Fifth Avenue Market. Through ethnographic fieldwork, which I intend to conduct between June 2025 and August 2025, I aim to explore how vendors navigate regulatory frameworks, spatial restrictions, and economic uncertainties while sustaining their livelihoods. By engaging directly with traders, policymakers, and community stakeholders, this research will provide critical insights into the lived experiences of informal vendors and their interactions with urban governance structures. The findings will contribute to discussions on urban planning, policy effectiveness, and the sustainable integration of informal economies into the broader city framework.