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vendors causing disturbances in the capital or they would boycott paying rates.
Illegal vendors are accused of turning most open spaces into market places.
Zimbabwe Home Industries and Markets Association president Mr Onismo Gore yesterday said if the city fathers fail to address the issue within 14 days they would stop paying their monthly rates.
ZHIMA is a membership-based organisation for informal traders who pay US$68 per month to council.
However, city spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi said a united approach was needed to remove illegal vendors from the streets.
“I don’t think ultimatums solve anything. The issue of illegal vendors has been there for a long time and as council we have been doing our best to do away with them.
“Instead of sending ultimatums it’s better to put our heads together and see how best we can resolve the issue,” he said.
Mr Gore said the illegal vendors do not incur any overhead expenses and therefore provide them with unfair competition.
“We are urging them to find a solution because we pay a lot to them. They have to fix the problem so that we all benefit.
“Mathematically, an illegal vendor outside Mupedzanhamo makes a lot because he does not pay any rentals. This makes business not viable to those inside,” he said.
Mr Gore said council should provide more vending sites to people if it is to stop the chaos in the city centre.
“Traders should be allocated more vending sites as the number continues to grow,” he said.
Zimbabweans have turned to infor-mal trading to earn a living as most industries have closed due to illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu