Informal Entrepreneurship and Urban Space: A Case Study of Food Vendors in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

This research examines the spatial dynamics and practices of informal food vendors in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Using Lefebvre’s spatial triad and de Certeau’s theory, the study reveals how vendors navigate and shape urban spaces. Through mixed-methods research, it highlights the vendors’ strategic use of space, adaptation to constraints and collective agency in challenging existing structures. The study recommends policies that recognise their contributions and support their livelihoods through formalisation and inclusion in urban planning. The findings contribute to understanding the role of informal economies in urban food systems and have implications for urban policy and planning.