Bulawayo vendors clash with municipal police over confiscated wares

VENDORS operating along the 5th Avenue marketplace in Bulawayo’s city centre were yesterday involved in running battles with municipal police following the confiscation of their wares.

Police had to intervene resulting in some of the vendors being arrested and taken to the Bulawayo Central Police Station where they were made to pay admission of guilt fines.

The vendors accused Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of delaying in allocating them bays to operate from. They said they were now being fleeced by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as BCC officials who were demanding money from them.

In February, BCC temporarily closed a portion of 5th Avenue to prepare 500 trading bays to accommodate the vendors.

The local authority said a section of 5th Avenue will now have two riding lanes and vending bays for 500 informal traders.

Lately, the local authority has been engaged in running battles with vendors who have not been allocated operating bays.

Informal traders are required to have a valid vendor’s licence before they can be allocated bays.

Registration is being done at Dugmore Vending Offices (former Dugmore Clinic) along Basch Street and Sixth Avenue.

Informal traders are required to pay CBD licence fees of US$23 per year and monthly rentals $11,50 per month.

Those operating outside the city centre are expected to pay US$11,50 annually while paying US$5,75 monthly rentals.

Applicants are required to produce identity documents, processed fingerprint forms (vetted by CID), proof of residence for a property in Bulawayo in the form of a water or electricity bill, two passport-size photos and requisite fees for the licence.

Those trading in fruits and vegetables should produce pre-examination for contagious diseases and lessons on food handling with the City of Bulawayo Health Services Department (Khami Road Clinic).

A vendor who only identified herself as Ms Ndlovu said they wanted an official statement from BCC with regards to the allocation of vending bays.

“We are in the third month since we were removed and promised bays which council said will be ready in a month,” she said.

Another vendor said the marketplace is the only source of income for most of them and the delay was therefore affecting their livelihoods.

“Schools are reopening next week and we need money for school fees. No one can go for a day without eating and as vendors we only make ends meet after we push volumes in terms of sales,” she said.

The vendors said they were made to pay between US$3 and US$250 to secure operating space.

They also said they were paying US$1 a day as “protection fee” to avoid raids by municipal police.

Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu said council had since handed over the place to vendors unions and representatives.

“The official position of the council is that the 5th Avenue fruit and vegetable site was handed over to the vendors. We did so through their unions and representatives. However we will investigate these concerns and get to the bottom of the matter,” he said.