OF the things I am most proud of as a Zimbabwean is our resilient nature and adherence to our laws. Our respect for law and resilient nature were forged by sweat and blood. We are survivors and not just ordinary survivors. We successfully resisted colonialism and all its injustices. In recent years we have resisted all forms of neo-colonialism. We reclaimed our land so that we would not continue to live in little pieces of arid and infertile land. We resisted the Western regime change agenda that sought to install Western puppets in leadership. And our success is hinged on one critical element, an adherence to rules. The liberation struggles, the Chimurengas were successful because they were guided by rules. Our jambanja for land with all its seeming chaos was structured and ordered, it had rules. The straw-hat wearing and gap-toothed comrades adhered to rules as they engaged in the jambanja. The repossession of the economy is not being done in a haphazard manner, it is guided by rules. In short, our endeavours in good and bad times, in this our beautiful country, are guided by rules. This point, the importance of rules and order, I make in light of the current issue of vending and vendors. It is no secret that the country is presently facing difficulties in almost all arenas chiefly the economic arena. Years of illegal sanctions imposed by the West have battered the economy and destroyed industries. Our people have had to be innovative to survive. While government has struck major deals with countries such as Russia, China and Brazil, the fruits of these deals will not be realised overnight. And in the interim people are doing all they can do to eke out a living. Government fully appreciates the efforts of the people to earn a living and that is the reason why vendors continue to operate, but there is need for order and to observe basic rules so that our cities and country do not degenerate into anarchy. One thing that we must be clear about is that we should not allow failed politicians to hijack vendors and exploit them for their benefit. There are politicians that since the resounding ZANU PF electoral victory in 2013 have been relegated to the dustbins of politics. And now these are trying to rise using a purely social and business matter that is being resolved in a manner that does not seek to prejudice anyone but ensure that all parties are happy. It must be understood that rights are not a preserve of the few that is what we fought against. And rights cannot be enjoyed in ways that trample on the rights of others. Our cities are host to more than vendors. Ordinary folks going about their business, business operators and tourists make up our cities and these also have rights that must be respected. The order being called for is not just to open up space to walk. When we have 10 000 vendors operating in the city, some selling foodstuffs — without supporting infrastructure such as ablution facilities and water — is that not a recipe for disaster? One would not want to imagine the cost of containing a disease outbreak. For any system to thrive, including vendors, there is need to observe certain basic rules that at the present moment are being violated left, right and centre. Hakuna dunhu rinobudirira risina mitemo inoteedzerwa, donga watonga harishandi. Let us not be emotive, but rational and practical. In place is a Government of the people by the people and there is no way it will prejudice itself. For some elements, which work in cahoots with our detractors, to profess more love for the people than Government is pure mischief pushing agendas we all know very well.