More vending sites for Harare

Kudakwashe Ruwende Herald Reporter
Harare City Council and the Informal Traders Association have partnered to restore sanity in the city by providing more vending sites.
Two more such facilities at the commuter omnibus holding bay along Coventry Road and at Parklane have been created, bringing to 14 the number of such facilities in the city.

Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi said in a statement yesterday that the purpose for the partnership was to bring order in the city.

“I would like to thank the Informal Traders Association who have come out in the open, saying they are ready to provide alternative trading sites,” said Dr Mahachi.

“The chairpersons of the informal traders and council are talking the same language and the bottom line is that there should be organised trading and order in the city.”

Dr Mahachi said only registered vendors would be allowed to conduct business in the city centre.

“City of Harare and key stakeholders have agreed that no one will be allowed to trade without registration. We recognise the important role of informal trading in the growth of the economy, employment creation and self-sustenance.

“We urge all unregistered informal traders to register immediately at the following centres: Market Square, Mbare District Office at the Remembrance Drive in Mbare, Julius Nyerere Parkade and Publicity Office situated in the Africa Unity Square,” he said.

The city has so far registered 20 000 informal traders.

Dr Mahachi said: “The city will continuously review provision of market places with a view to increase the number of trading sites.

“In addition, the city is discussing with a partner to introduce suitable informal trading infrastructure with provision for ablution and storage facilities.”

He said the city, together with the Informal Traders Association and other key stakeholders, would relocate all traders to designated trading sites commencing this Friday.

Zanu-PF has ordered municipal police to stop harassing vendors but provide them with proper vending sites so they can sustain their families.