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Yesterday Government gave a reprieve to vendors illegally operating in the country’s CBDs by extending the ultimatum to relocate to designated sites from Monday next week to June 26. This was to allow local authorities to put up more vending structures and for the vendors to prepare for relocation.
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni stated that Cabinet had accepted that illegal vendors have to be relocated from the CBD but that this should be done in a professional manner and with empathy given the economic situation in the country. More importantly, all vendors will now be registered and be located in suitable Box Parks where there are proper facilities and electricity.
This should come as good news to the vendors. It, however, doesn’t legalise their activities in the CBDs. The reprieve should be taken in good faith. Accordingly, Minister Nyoni said the vendors should use the intervening period to clean up the CBDs and remove all the litter. That is what responsible people do.
The ultimatum given this week provoked apocalyptic headings in the media of a looming showdown between Government and the vendors. There were all manner of lame excuses for illegal vending – a high unemployment rate, Zanu-PF’s failure to create two million jobs and the fact that they had been allowed to operate illegally for a long time. Others claimed the vendors didn’t have alternative sites to operate from besides the CBDs where there was high human traffic.
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who seems to think every little dispute in the country is an opportunity for a “final push”, described the decision to relocate the illegal vendors as “unconstitutional”. And the agenda-setting media were ready to “push” him headlong.
Forgive him. His are the howls of a drowning man. Give him a straw.
Tsvangirai said the vendors should resist relocation. Overall, there were efforts, not so subtle, to incite civil disobedience, to turn a lawful order into a casus belli between Government and illegal vendors. Mention of the involvement of JOC in enforcing the order, should that be necessary, was given undue prominence to please some American woman by the name Shannon Smith of the Bureau of African Affairs. This is a person from the US where killing blacks by the white racist establishment has become daily sport and she tries to lecture us on human rights because Government cannot account for one Itai Dzamara. What hypocrisy! What exceptionalism!
The truth is there is no malice against vending. It happens all over the world, it doesn’t need economic sanctions as is the case with Zimbabwe. The First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, has pronounced herself clearly. Vendors make a living selling their wares under these distressed economic conditions. But she has said “Stop It” to illegal vending.
It is also because of these economic circumstances that local authorities have been lenient in enforcing city by-laws on illegal vending. It doesn’t mean there are no laws to stop it, especially in Harare where street vendors have become a law unto themselves with no regard for the convenience of other members of the public.
They sell their wares in unhygienic conditions with no ablution facilities and block the free movement of vehicular traffic. They set up their stalls in front of shops which pay rates to council and then discount their sometimes smuggled wares to dumping-price levels to stop customers from entering registered retail shops. That cannot be allowed to continue.
The new deadline allows those interested in vending to regularise their operations, get the necessary papers as required by law, and set up their stalls at the specified Box Parks. Those who violate the law thereafter, whether willingly or out of ignorance, must live with the nasty consequences. That includes those being misled by self-serving politicians. Ignorance of the law is no defence.
The relocation of illegal vendors is meant to restore order and sanity to our urban centres. Government is doing everything within its means to implement Zim-Asset to empower all Zimbabweans. Erratic rains in the past season drastically reduced the maize harvest, thus exposing many people to food insecurity.
Finally, the fact the vendors have been operating illegally for a long time with apparent impunity doesn’t diminish the effect of the law. Let’s bring back the Sunshine City.
Online Reporter