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MDC-T councillors in Harare deliberately stalled the construction of official vending sites and wanted to use the vending chaos in the capital to soil Government’s image and possibly cause social unrest, it has emerged.
The councillors are also selectively enforcing by-laws to suit their political interests.
Last week, sources from Town House revealed that proposals to erect proper vending sites were made way back in June 2014, but no action was taken by the MDC-T led council.
The vending sites could have been ready by December 2014.
Harare City Council has 46 councillors, 38 of them representing the MDC-T.
The sources said, “We saw that the situation was getting out of hand and proposed vending sites sometime in June 2014. However, they kept dragging their feet. Several meetings were held and the sites were identified long ago.
“They are now arguing that they cannot relocate the vendors to these sites because there’s no water there, yet these are the same issues we could have addressed in 2014. What we are witnessing is a shift in the economy and we are not the first to be in this kind of situation.
“They have been applying their own by-laws. They are quick to enforce by-laws in some areas, but have been silent on vendors. These councillors set up an informal sector committee, but withdrew the agenda item on vendors at the last full council meeting.”
Harare Vendors By-Laws (2014) (Statutory Instrument 159 of 2014) empowered council to set aside land or premises for vending.
A permit confines the vendor to a particular stall that indicates his or her name and the period during which the permit is valid.
Council has, however, failed to effectively enforce these by-laws.
Zimbabwe Home Industries and Markets Association president, Mr Onismo Gore said: “They are looking for support from the masses, that is why they have been urging them to stay on the streets.
“We are aware that some vendors’ unions and individuals have been told to ignore Government’s directive. We are, however, saying let’s unite to restore order and sanity in the city.”
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