Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE traditional cat-and-mouse relationship between Bulawayo City Council security officers and vendors in the city has turned into a complex web of verbal and legal acrimony that has seen accusations and counter-accusations flying.
That has left the local authority’s security personnel with an egg on the face.
The relationship has been characterised by constant clashes, with council officers consistently raiding vendors’ stalls and seizing their wares.
However, in the latest development, after being raided, vendors are now turning the tables on the council security — who do not have arresting powers, reporting counter cases to police, accusing council security officials of theft and ganging against them in courts.
Further complicating matters for the council security officials is the solidarity demonstrated by the vendors who turn up in court as witnesses for their colleagues as a united front against the council security personnel.
The tactic has left the council security officers reeling and the local authority facing a hefty legal bill.
Last year, nine council officers were arrested on attempted murder charges after allegedly firing at vendors along Fifth Avenue in the Central Business District.
This was after the numerous battles between the two.
According to the latest council report, some of the vendors are now so brazen that they are also attacking the council security personnel whenever they are raided.
In June, six security officers were injured while carrying out their duties after being attacked by the informal traders.
“The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Edwin Ndlovu) enquired on the progress in securing arresting powers for the City of Bulawayo. He further enquired if any legal action had been taken against vendors who assaulted the council’s security guards. He emphasised the need to protect them.
“Regarding issues of assault, the city’s Chamber Secretary (Mrs Sikhangele Zhou) stated that this varied depending on the act, some of the perpetrators were arrested and later discharged, while others appeared in court,” reads the report.
“The challenge was that the vendors filed counter-claims, accusing council’s security guards of theft and assault and they had witnesses to support their claims, whether true or false. As a result, council was continuously defending its security guards against these allegations.”
On the issue of the lobby to get arresting powers for council officials, the Chamber Secretary said it was still being looked into.
In July, the local authority announced plans to employ 249 contract security guards between the ages of 18 and 45.
In a job vacancy notice, the local authority said the successful applicants’ duties will be to guard council assets and employees, search vehicles coming in and going out of council premises to prevent theft by both council employees and members of the public, control, check vending sites and compliance by vendors and arresting of offenders, attend court cases on behalf of council, provide escort services for cash in transit and fuel transportation and other valuable items as well as conduct patrols in council installations or place of deployment.
Last year, the council was forced to reverse its decision to disband the Municipality Police and replace it with a private security company on a 12-month rolling contract as part of a raft of measures to cut its wage bill and improve security.
Bongani Ndlovu