Online Reporter
THE chaotic pulse of Harare’s streets has become a defining feature of Zimbabwe’s capital, a city once renowned for its order and cleanliness. Today, it stands as a stark testament to the consequences of neglect, where the informal has overwhelmed the formal, and where the rule of law has been steadily eroded by the sheer weight of disorder.
The Cabinet’s recent approval of measures to address illegal vending in the Harare Central Business District, therefore, represents a declaration of war against decay.
It is a necessary, albeit difficult, campaign to reclaim the city’s soul.
The Government, under the Second Republic, must not lose this battle of wills with vendors, for the future of Harare — and the dignity of its citizens — depends on it.
We have all witnessed the unsightly and unhealthy consequences of turning a blind eye to the army of illegal vendors that has now taken over the cityscape.
The evidence is everywhere.
Litter clogs storm drains, transforming heavy rains into urban floods.
Open spaces have been defiled as people, driven by the absence of public amenities, relieve themselves in the open, creating a public health catastrophe.
The general unsanitary conditions are not just an eyesore; they are a breeding ground for disease.
The progressive decay of the city is a physical manifestation of a systemic failure to enforce the very by-laws designed to protect the public good.
The sanctity of city by-laws, whose key tenet is to restore and maintain order, must be upheld.
There can be no exceptions, no matter how sympathetic the plight of those who break them.
A city without enforceable rules is not a city; it is a chaotic settlement on the brink of collapse.
This is not a fight against the poor or the enterprising.
It is a fight for the city itself.
Harare, like other cities of its stature, has generally been left behind by the progress and development spearheaded by the Second Republic.
While new roads, dams and industries have begun to transform the national landscape, the capital has been locked in a time capsule of decay.
The campaign to restore order should, therefore, be viewed as the beginning of the rebirth of the city.
It is the foundational step upon which all other urban renewal efforts must be built.
You cannot build a modern, prosperous city on a foundation of filth and lawlessness. You cannot attract investment, tourism or even basic civic pride when the city centre resembles a sprawling, unregulated bazaar.
It is, therefore, comforting that the Government, through the measures unveiled in Cabinet last week, has come up with a comprehensive framework to make this campaign sustainable.
The four-pillar approach — legislate, provide, formalise and enforce — is a masterstroke that balances the necessary iron fist of enforcement with the velvet glove of social and economic intervention.
This becomes a structured pathway to a lawful and dignified existence for all.
The acceleration of servicing for 100 identified vending sites with potable water, ablution facilities, lighting, shelter and waste management addresses the very root causes of the unsanitary conditions we deplore.
The development of a new, modern satellite market on the periphery of the CBD is a visionary step that will decongest the city centre while creating a dedicated, well-equipped hub for commerce.
The 60-day one-stop formalisation drive and the establishment of a Harare Vendors Council is designed to help create a bridge from the informal to the formal economy.
However, for this rebirth to succeed, enforcement must be applied with unwavering resolve.
The constitution of a CBD Urban Management Command to “clear, clean, keep” the city is a necessary operational mechanism.
Furthermore, the expedited processing of the Municipal Police and Courts Bill is the legal bedrock for this entire endeavour.
Without the ability to effectively prosecute municipal offences, the by-laws remain a paper tiger.
Overall, the relocation of illegal vendors under strict enforcement is a prerequisite for the plan’s success.
The battle of wills will be won or lost on the streets, in the daily application of the law.
The Government’s commitment, as evidenced by the Ministry of Local Government’s launched 60-day exercise, is a promising start.
But this is a marathon, not a sprint.
The forces of entropy and disorder are persistent.
The temptation to look the other way, to avoid political fallout, will be immense.
But the stakes are too high.
The future of our capital city, the health of its citizens and the integrity of our laws are on the line.
Let us be clear: this is a battle for the soul of Harare.
Losing it would mean surrendering our capital to a permanent state of decay.
Winning it means unlocking the city’s potential as a true engine of national development. Let’s build a city we are all proud of — a city of order, opportunity and dignity for every Zimbabwean.
