The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
HARARE City Council has regained control of public toilets, which had been forcibly taken by space barons who were charging members of the public a premium for access to the toilets.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution responsible for Harare Metropolitan Province, Engineer Oliver Chidawu, warned rogue elements who are collecting money from informal traders through name-dropping.
“I will reiterate our position that we do not tolerate space barons, most of whom had encouraged the construction of illegal structures in Mbare, and were extorting money from the people operating in these structures.
“Our position is that the local authority must be able to collect revenue from its facilities and spaces, and boost its coffers in order to help improve service delivery.
“Currently, we have rogues who are besmirching the names of political parties, falsely claiming to have endorsement from political parties to collect money from informal traders, public toilets and bus ranks,” he said.
“In particular, there are rogues claiming to have the endorsement of the ruling Zanu PF to collect money, yet this is false and the party does not have any link whatsoever to these individuals.”
