The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
ILLEGAL second-hand clothing traders have resurfaced in the Harare Central Business District, posing a serious risk of the spread of Covid-19 amid fears of a third wave hitting the country as the winter season approaches.
Announcing a new relaxed lockdown early March, President Mnangagwa opened up the informal sector but emphasised the need for this industry to observe Covid-19 protocols.
However, a number of informal traders, especially those in the trade of second-hand clothes (Mabhero), have invaded the CBD, mainly along Park Street where Covid-19 regulations are being broken at will.
The vendors are also blocking the smooth flow of traffic and creating unnecessary congestion in that part of the city.
Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme, said council would only tolerate informal traders that operate from validly registered stalls.
“Everyone who is doing business in the Central Business District should follow Covid-19 regulations. Failure to do so, our law enforcement will make sure that these people do not operate. People should trade at designated points where provisions are made for sanitising and ablution facilities.
“Whoever is operating at an undesignated place is doing so illegally and our Municipal police will remove them,” said Mr Chideme.
Harare City Council has erected formal structures where vendors can apply for space but a number of unscrupulous traders, especially those that deal in second-hand clothes, continue operating at undesignated points posing a serious health risk.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned the errant vendors. “It’s a crime not to observe the Covid-19 protocols and the country’s laws. I have been in touch with Harare provincial police so that police can move in and bring order,” he told The Sunday Mail yesterday.
Last week, Zimbabwe reported 261 cases of new Covid-19 infections and 13 deaths from the respiratory disease between Monday and Friday.
As at Friday, 269 732 people had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 2 020 had received their second shot.
