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Latwell Nyangu
CONCERNS have been raised about the hygiene of car food vendors operating in parking bays in Harare’s central business district (CBD), amid a cholera outbreak in the country.
With a lack of guidance, health experts fear that cholera could spread from these sites.
It is unknown whether the vendors are registered to operate in parking bays under city health by-laws. The Government has allocated a US$12 million budget for cholera prevention, treatment and response.
There are calls for authorities to inspect the food vendors who are operating illegally, without clearance and in an environmentally unsafe area.
“This is another health hazard as these vendors are not cleared and the environment where they are selling the food is not safe.
“They are selling in parking bays yet the health city by-laws require a licence for one to sell food to the public. They have made their canteens in bays and only pay for parking,” said a concerned citizen.
Another food buyer said the street food is cheap.
“These people sell cheap sadza, rice and meat. It’s really affordable because it’s just for a dollar. You can cut some costs by buying from them rather than from restaurants.”
One of the food vendors said:
“We are in the process of getting all the paper work. We have already been to the city council offices. They are the ones who advised us to pay for parking at least for one hour and sell our food.
“We run a canteen somewhere and we are looking forward to have it close by, but for now we are selling from the car while our paper work is being processed.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge