Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
THE uncontrolled proliferation of roadside braai stands at Mutare’s main bus termini and streets has raised alarm among residents and health experts – who warn that the illicit food vending poses severe health and safety risks to consumers and pedestrians alike.
At Chikanga, Dangamvura and Sakubva bus ranks as well at the popular Moto-Moto and drinking spots in the Central Business District (CBD), food vendors, predominantly selling smoked meat, have commandeered sidewalks.
Pedestrians are forced to navigate through a hazardous obstacle course of open fires, braai stands, and scalding vats of cooking oil.
These informal traders strategically set up base around 3pm, timing their arrival to coincide with the end of shift by municipal police.
This tactical move is aimed at evading arrest by municipal cops.
The vendors, most of whom are unlicensed and untrained, sell grilled sausages, chicken pieces, gizzards, smoked corn, burgers, and fries, and sometimes operate as late as 1am.
With no proper waste disposal or water drainage systems, many dump dirty water on the streets, worsening hygienic conditions in the already congested areas.
In an interview, a street food vendor, Mr Dumisani Chawambeli, vigorously defended his trade as a legitimate means of earning a living, despite acknowledging that he and his brothers operate without licences, and were never officially allocated vending space by the city council.
Mr Chawambeli revealed that he and his three brothers jointly operate two food posts in the city, one at Sakubva Rank and the other at Dangamvura Rank.
“We are essentially a company,” he said.
Mr Chawambeli emphasised that they specialise in street vending of cooked food, with gizzards and sausages being their top-selling items.
He maintained that they prioritise hygiene.
“We take pride in our cleanliness, and ensure that our food does not pose a risk to public health,” he asserted.
However, with city sidewalks transforming into impromptu food courts, and public concerns escalating, authorities are facing mounting pressure to strike a balance between economic inclusion and public health.
According to the city council by-laws, all street traders must obtain licences, and operate within designated vending areas equipped with access to toilets and waste disposal facilities.
The council has urged unlicensed traders to formalise their operations through the Housing and Community Services Department in Sakubva.
In an interview, City of Mutare spokesperson, Mr Charles Sadondo, warned of the growing threat posed by street-vended food, especially when proper sanitary protocols are not observed.
He said according to the city’s public health and registered premises by-laws, food business either preparation, storage, selling or serving must be done in approved structures.
“The structures should have necessary facilities like store rooms, change rooms, adequate piped hot and cold water supply, kitchen, toilets, hand washing facilities, storage facilities like fridges for cold chain etc. Street food vending is illegal as these vendors are not meeting minimum health standards. Food prepared in those areas is a public health risk,” he said.
Mr Sadondo raised concerns that the food handlers at these illegal vending points are not medically examined, creating an environment conducive to the spread of food borne illnesses such as salmonella, typhoid, and cholera.
“These vendors lack access to piped water and ablution facilities, and their food is exposed to adverse weather conditions and contaminants, putting consumers at risk of disease,” he said.
Mr Sadondo emphasised that the operations are illegal, and cannot be registered or licensed.
Instead, he encouraged entrepreneurs to look for suitable premises in the city where they can conduct their food businesses legally.
“There are shops available in the city that are ideal for food business operations,” he said.
Currently, the city is conducting awareness campaigns, targeting illegal vendors, educating them on how to obtain proper designated spaces to conduct their businesses legally.
Following the awareness campaigns, the city will commence enforcement actions.
However, some street food vendors claim they are operating within the law.
Mr Tadiwanashe Chashata, a vendor at Dangamvura Rank, proudly claimed that his business – Mutape’s Hot Mobile Sausages – is licensed and employs four people on a commission basis.
“We are registered and possess a hawker’s licence which allows us to operate as mobile vendors,” he explained, however, acknowledging that his stationary setup at the rank is technically illegal, which is why he sets up shop after 3pm, avoiding municipal police patrols.
Mr Chashata said his business thrives on targeting commuters heading home and long-distance travellers.
“I often stay until after midnight, and I have built relationships with bus drivers and conductors who tip me off about hungry customers,” he said.
With ambitions to expand his business, Mr Chashata plans to invest in a chip-making machine and eventually open a restaurant.
“It is about being entrepreneurial, building networks, and seizing opportunities,” he said.
Despite the vendors’ ambitions, their activities remain a significant source of discomfort for many commuters and residents.
Overcrowded pavements, choking smoke, and the risk of injury from open flames are persistent concerns.
Moreover, residents and health professionals question the safety of food prepared in the open air, amid uncollected garbage, unclean surfaces, and unregulated foot traffic.
Mutare resident and commuter, Mrs Patricia Maenda, described the situation as chaotic and perilous.
“The scene at Chikanga Rank around 6pm is absolute madness. Braai stands cover the entire sidewalk, and the air is thick with smoke. Sometimes, hot oil splashes perilously close to pedestrians’ legs. It is frightening, and there seems to be no one in control,” she said.
However, another pedestrian, Mr James Chingwena, acknowledged the convenience offered by the vendors, despite the disorderly conditions.
“I frequently buy from them, especially when travelling. For 50 cents, you get a piece of sausage or chicken, ensuring that you don’t go to bed on an empty stomach. While I wish they operated in a clean environment, I appreciate their affordability,” he said.
A commuter, Mr Talent Ncube shared a cautionary tale, having once contracted food poisoning from meat purchased at Sakubva Rank.
Nevertheless, he empathised with the vendors’ plight.
“They are just trying to survive. The city should provide proper stalls with running water and bins. That way, everyone benefits safely,” he said.
In recent years, Mutare City Council has intensified efforts to clear illegal vendors from the CBD and major bus ranks.
However, the cat and mouse game between vendors and municipal police persists.
As soon as the officers depart, the traders return, with some cleverly timing their setups to coincide with the end of council working hours.
Although the council has designated vending sites, many informal traders argue that these areas are either too remote from customer traffic or lack adequate infrastructure.
Consequently, during peak hours, when the city’s bus ranks flood with weary commuters, the braai stands reappear, shrouded in smoke.
As night falls, the grills sizzle, vendors hawk their specials, and another evening of unregulated street food trading commences.
This nocturnal scene, not only satiates the hunger of commuters, but also fuels a growing debate about the future of Mutare’s public spaces.
Online Reporter