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Nyasha Weluzani Herald Reporter
Harare City Council has completed the registration of vendors in the Central Business District and has begun allocating them vending sites. Those not registered can no longer operate in the city.
Another registration exercise began on Tuesday at the city’s district offices to allocate vending sites in the suburbs.
The process ends on October 23.
Council said, in a statement, that a total of 4 817 registered vendors were being allocated vending sites in the CBD.
“Following completion of the CBD registration exercise, council is now allocating the registered individuals vending sites and ensuring the unregistered people do not vend,” it said.
The rationale behind the registration exercise is to know the population of vendors in the city for planning purposes.
Council advised vendor associations to report any individuals trading without registration.
“Harare Metro Police, together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, will arrest and fine individuals defying the law, said the city.
“A person can be arrested as many times as possible in a day if they continue disregarding the law.”
Council said it was carrying out the exercise in an effort to reduce the economic hardships that the country was facing.
“Harare City recognises the important role played by the informal sector in the national economy, especially during this period when our economy is hard pressed for jobs,” said the council.
“It is that honest acceptance that the informal sector is a vital cog in job creation and self-sustenance that we put mechanisms to promote our informal sector.”
Vending fees will be used to provide shelter to the vendors in line with council’s policy to provide decent vending places for its residents.
Vending will be outlawed at traffic intersections, road islands and street pavements and in the middle of the road.
Smuggled goods will not be allowed at any of the vending sites, while law enforcement agents will confiscate any contraband items and owners would be asked to account for the importation of the goods.
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