Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is rolling out a 60-day one-stop formalisation drive to bring informal traders into the regulated economy with more and upgraded trading spaces, as part of a broader programme to end illegal vending but provide vendors with lawful and decent trading alternatives.
The drive, to be implemented in partnership with the City of Harare and other stakeholders, will see vendors being assisted to formalise their operations and access designated trading spaces, while the Government accelerates the development and upgrading of vending infrastructure across the capital.
This comes as the Government last week launched a clampdown on illegal vending in Harare’s city centre and undesignated suburban sites, following a seven-day ultimatum.
The operation, “Chenesa Harare Final”, is being implemented in response to concerns over illegal vending, urban sanitation and the obstruction of public pathways.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda yesterday said Cabinet had approved measures to address informal vending and associated activities in Harare, with the interventions anchored on four pillars; Legislate, Provide, Formalise and Enforce.
“In line with the Vision 2030 objectives and minimum service delivery standards of smart and orderly cities consistent with a prosperous upper-middle income society, Cabinet approved the proposed measures to address informal vending and associated activities in the Harare central business district,” he said.
Dr Soda said the formalisation would be complemented by the servicing of 100 identified vending sites across Harare’s suburbs with potable water, ablution facilities, lighting, shelter, waste management and storage.
“A new modern satellite market for traders will be developed on the periphery of the CBD. A 60-Day One-Stop Formalisation Drive will be launched in liaison with the City of Harare and all the relevant stakeholders, while a Harare Vendors Council is established for co-management of sites and dispute resolution,” he said.
Formalised vendors would also be linked to financial institutions for working capital, while a CBD Urban Management Command chaired by the City of Harare would oversee efforts to “Clear, Clean, Keep” the city clean and orderly.
Government will also expedite processing of the Municipal Police and Courts Bill to strengthen enforcement of municipal by-laws and facilitate the operation of Municipal Courts.
Dr Soda said interventions targeting other urban challenges, including illegal transport operations, deteriorating road infrastructure and organised crime, would be announced as the programme progresses.
Government’s 60-day drive will also be accompanied by a 30-day amnesty for vendors in other parts of the country, which will be followed by strict enforcement.
Addressing questions during the post Cabinet briefing, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe clarified that the separate 30-day grace period for vendors to regularise their operations did not apply to Harare, where the clean-up was already under way.
“It refers to all other cities; Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe and other cities and rural district councils. Harare is in full swing, clean-up process and we are not going to disrupt that.
“Harare is now in the middle of a clean-up process in the central business district and the northern suburbs. We’ve done almost 60 percent of the clean-up,” he said.
Authorities were moving vendors into existing designated trading facilities while additional infrastructure was being developed.
All the 92 local authorities in the country had formal vending spaces, most of which stood empty as vendors opted to do business at illegal sites. The Minister said the clean-up was also driven by concerns over littering and poor sanitation in urban centres.
“We are not saying no to vending. That is not the idea. But we are saying yes to organised development. We are aware that Harare has reached intolerable levels, deplorable levels, where there is litter everywhere,” he said.
Minister Garwe said night vending remained banned because local authorities currently lacked the infrastructure required to support it.
Local authorities were upgrading existing markets while the Government was also constructing additional trading spaces.
“In terms of the facilities that we have at the moment, we don’t have a single city that is ready for night vending. Until at such time that we put those facilities in place, night vending remains banned,” he said.
Addressing concerns on affordability of formal trading facilities, Minister Garwe said charges at designated traders’ markets had been reduced following consultations, from an initial proposal of US$100 a month to US$45, with traders being given six months to operate without paying.
