The Sunday Mail
Urban councils countrywide will starting this week embark on a major clean-up targeting vendors who operate from undesignated spots in central business districts.
The exercise – which follows a Government directive – will see the traders being relocated to sites that conform to by-laws and health and safety regulations.
The targets include individuals who sell goods on pavements, road islands, at road intersections, in front of shops and in public car parks.
In Harare, all errant vendors will be systematically moved to residential areas over two weeks.
In Bulawayo, City Hall will continue an on-going programme of moving traders to designated spaces around the CBD.
In Mutare, council is working to identify alternative trading places.
Harare Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi told The Sunday Mail that Town House was determined to restore order.
“We will start removing people next week (this week). The most critical element or top priority is to remove them from road islands and pavements. Thereafter, we will pursue those occupying illegal vending sites.
“We hope to complete the exercise within a week or two.
“Our intention is to move them to suburbs because there are shopping centres in suburbs such as Mbare, Highfield and the like. The problem is they (vendors) think the CBD is the only place where they can make money. This is because they cannot market their produce, and you need to market your produce to create the pull mechanism which is missing.”
Mutare Mayor Councillor Tatenda Nhamarare said the local authority was working withs relevant Government departments to register vendors.
“We are still in the process of finding alternative sites for these vendors. So, perhaps by early March we would have removed them from the streets and other illegal sites they are operating from,” he said.
Bulawayo Mayor Cllr Martin Moyo said: “For us, it won’t be anything dramatic because we have always been removing illegal vendors: It will be a continuing process.
“At the moment, we encouraging vendors to register. Inasmuch as we understand that vending is their source of livelihood, we encourage them to register and operate from recognised sites.”
Most urban centres countrywide have over the years registered a surge in vending and other trades as many Zimbabweans turn to entrepreneurship.
A number of vendors – while seeking lucrative markets – have invaded undesignated areas in CBDs, risking frequent run-ins with municipal police.
Ten designated sites in central Harare can only accommodate 6 000 vendors, but over 20 000 are operating with only 10 000 having registered with council.
At the recent 73rd Urban Councils’ Association of Zimbabwe annual general meeting in Bulawayo, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo said: “Whilst we acknowledge the role of the informal sector in our economy, the upsurge of indiscriminate vending in urban areas has acutely affected the ambience of our environs whilst also compromising the health of the residents.
“Vendors are selling their wares from everywhere including on pavements, open spaces and in front of shops. Accordingly, this scenario cannot be allowed to continue.
“All local authorities are, therefore, required to immediately take necessary measures to remove the vendors from the said undesignated sites to alternative planned vending points. As we undertake this assignment, it is imperative that you engage all concerned so as to ensure both ownership of the process and outcome of your interventions.”
