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Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council has started allocating vending bays to informal traders at a new site located at the corner of Masotsha Ndlovu and Fife Street, adjacent to the Highlanders Football Club House.
The site has approximately 800 bays that are ready for occupation.
Senior council public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said the allocation of the vending bays started on Monday.
She encouraged illegal vendors to register and acquire licences at the municipality’s Dugmore Vending offices.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise informal traders who are currently trading along 5th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street to stop illegal vending. They’re encouraged to approach our Dugmore Vending offices located at Basch Street and 6th Avenue, for registration and licensing.
‘‘Those who’ve been successfully issued trading licences will be allocated bays at the new site at Corner Masotsha Ndlovu and Fife Street (Adjacent Highlanders Club House),” said Mpofu.
She said only one bay is allocated per trader on a first come first serve basis and ancillary services such as commuter omnibuses, caravans, and a cloakroom are available on site.
Mpofu said applicants should be Bulawayo residents and they should provide proof of residence in the form of water or electricity bills among others as well as police clearance.
They are also required to indicate goods or services that they offer.
Mpofu warned illegal traders operating along Jason Moyo and 5th Avenue to stop as they face prosecution.
Nesiwe Munkuli, who had just been allocated a bay yesterday said there was a possibility that she would return to her old illegal site soon.
“That place isn’t marketable at all and we foresee ourselves back on the street corners in the city centre. I sell vegetables and I don’t see people from the western suburbs going that far to buy tomatoes. Otherwise they’ll choose to head straight to the market where it’s even cheaper because of the distance,” she said.
Another vendor, Naison Ncube, said he had been allocated space, but would only abandon his current site once business picked up at the new site.
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