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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Government, Harare City Council and organisations representing vendors yesterday agreed to work out the modalities of moving informal traders out of the Central Business District.
Hundreds of vendors have taken up open spaces in the capital’s CBD resulting in congestion and a potential health hazard due to the absence of sanitation and proper waste disposal facilities.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo said Government appreciated the difficulties most people were going through, but stated it was critical that sanity prevails in the city.
“The issue of vendors in the CBD has been topical of late and while we appreciate that they want to earn an honest living, most of them are now selling their wares everywhere, thus disturbing the movement of traffic and pedestrians.
“Apart from that, some are now selling their wares right in front of shops that are paying rates and rentals to council thus taking away customers from them,” Minister Chombo said.
He added that after meeting the various stakeholders it was agreed that vendors operating in the CBD be moved to other areas.
Minister Chombo urged the parties to amicably conclude the matter when they meet today so that Government is not forced to use law enforcement agencies to restore sanity in the city.
“Government understands the plight of the people and therefore met with the vendors, the city council and other stakeholders. We agreed that those vendors operating in the CBD be moved to other designated places. I want to thank the council for designating at least 10 places that the vendors should use and also for agreeing to consider the fees they charge at the designated sites,” he said.
Council currently charges $3 per day for vendors operating at designated vending sites and is set to revise the fee downwards.
Minister Chombo urged the parties to amicably conclude the matter when they meet today so that Government is not forced to use law enforcement agencies to restore sanity in the city.
Thousands of people have been forced into the informal sector due to the economic decline that was induced by the illegal sanctions imposed on the country at the turn of the millennium.
Online Reporter