Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
VENDORS operating from the 5th Avenue Vegetable Market in Bulawayo have vowed to stay put and disregard the recent resolution by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to close the facility, saying the decision was divorced from the socio-economic realities.
The traders argue that the closure threatens their livelihoods, as the alternative locations proposed by the local authority are too far from their customer base and would make it impossible for them to sustain their businesses.
In passing the resolution to shut down the marketplace, the local authority cited concerns over congestion, sanitation, and the need to maintain order in the city centre.
However, vendors argue that the proposed sites are inconveniently located, making it difficult for both traders and customers to access them. They also claim the council did not properly consult them before making the decision, leaving them feeling marginalised and ignored.
Sunday News visited the area last Friday and found it was business as usual for the vendors and if anything, the number of vendors operating at the site seems to have increased since the passing of the resolution a couple of weeks ago.
In separate interviews some of the vendors expressed frustration, emphasising that the 5th Avenue Market has been a central hub for fresh produce trade in the city for years.
They maintained that moving to the designated areas suggested by the council would result in a massive loss of customers, many of whom rely on the market’s centrality and accessible location.
“This is where we make a living to feed our families,” said a vendor who identified himself as Mr Walter Ndlovu.
“Council is not offering a realistic solution. How are we supposed to survive if we are forced to move to a place where no one will come to buy our goods?”
The traders called on the city council to engage in dialogue and come up with a solution that works for all parties involved. They insisted that shutting down the market without providing a viable alternative would only drive many of them into poverty.
“We are not against the restoration of order in the city, but any decision made should also take into account the realities of those of us who work here. We are willing to work with the council, but they need to listen to our concerns,” said another vendor who identified herself as Ms Shamiso Phiri.
Mr Munyaradzi Zhou who claimed to have been operating at the marketplace for the past 20 years vowed that they were not leaving without a fight.
“There is no other livelihood which we know, I have been based here for the past 20 years and it is not fair what the local authority is saying, all they want is to fight us rather than engage us so that we have constructive dialogue,” said Mr Zhou.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Ward One councillor, Josiah Mutangi took a swipe at council management for fuelling the situation at the marketplace and being behind the congestion that was taking place.
Speaking during a full council meeting Clr Mutangi said the council resolution to shut down the marketplace was only implementable after council management puts their house in order.
“The problem is with the council management, why am I saying so? We have over 400 vendors who were allocated in 5th Avenue, who are coming from other towns. They were allocated by the management, out of 400 vendors we have got 238 vendors who are sleeping in the streets, bathing in the streets. Why? Because they used their money to get those bays from the management. If the council wants the truth I can bring evidence in this house.
“From stand number 215 to 319, they are coming from outside the city but they have got bays and they are paying to management. This recommendation won’t work, the council must first put its house in order,” said Clr Mutangi.
He dispelled sentiments that the 5th Avenue crisis was a political one, maintaining that everything started with double allocation issues that were done by the council management.
“I have heard other councillors saying 5th Avenue is political, it is not even political, it’s people from Bulawayo who want to work in those areas and it is management that created this vendor crisis by the weekend flea market at Tower Block. It is not the vendors who did these double allocations, it is the management who did this double allocation.
“We have got people who are cooking on the streets, these are people linked to council staff, we have people selling bread on our streets all linked to council staff, if our municipal police come these people are not arrested. For now, I can assure you that vendors are not going anywhere,” he said.
The 5th Avenue Vegetable Market, from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street up to Robert Mugabe Way is home to Bulawayo’s fresh vegetable supply and has been a bone of contention for several years, with municipal police constantly engaging in running battles with traders for operating illegally.
