Tanzania, Sept. 11 -- Dar/Upcountry. For years, the government has repeatedly issued directives to clear small-scale traders (machingas) from unauthorized areas and relocate them to designated markets, yet sustainable enforcement remains an elusive goal.

Despite periodic clearance operations across major urban centres, traders routinely return to cleared pavements, raising questions about the structural barriers impeding long-term solutions.

An investigation by The Citizen's sister newspaper Mwananchi reveals that beyond economic drivers, the persistence of street hawking in prohibited zones is sustained by a network of influential figures, including local leaders and association heads, who exploit the informal setups for financial gain...