adminBrighton Gumbo Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo city council has established new vending sites in response to government’s call to restore order in urban areas. Bulawayo mayor Councillor Martin Moyo said Lobengula Mall and the whole of Sixth Avenue would be set aside for vending.
“The restoration of order is something that has been part of the council’s plan and the move by the government has brought this plan to life,” said the mayor.
He said the operation was not aimed at putting an end to vending but to minimise it in the CBD.
Clr Moyo said there was a waiting list of people who had long applied for vending sites.
“Most of the vendors operating in the city centre aren’t legalised and they’re always having running battles with the police particularly those along Jason Moyo and Joshua Nkomo streets,” he said.
The mayor said he was concerned that there was insufficient space to cater for all the vendors in the city. “I’m afraid there’s limited space for these vendors, hence some of them will not manage to get vending sites,” said Clr Moyo.
He urged vendors to cooperate with council for the seven-day deadline to be met.
The municipality’s plans come after the Minister of Local Government, Public works and National Housing Ignatius Chombo issued a seven day ultimatum for vendors to leave the streets where they are selling illegally or risk being arrested. There are mixed reactions to the government’s directive.
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) in Bulawayo, a representative body for informal traders, said the government should first look for proper vending marts before evicting them. The association’s first national vice-president, Edward Manning said they were shocked by the deadline as vending and informal trade is the only source of livelihoods for many people in the city due to the closure of many industries.
Online Reporter