Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]
ARE the watchful eyes of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, focused elsewhere while its local authorities in Bulawayo are being overwhelmed by illegal traders who risk turning the city into a questionable version of the so-called “City of Kings and Queens”?
This concern is highlighted by events reported in a Zimpapers publication two days ago.
Bulawayo is meant to be Zimbabwe’s industrial hub, proudly hosting what is arguably Africa’s largest gathering of local and international traders at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair every April.
The fair showcases a wide range of products from across the world and remains a source of national pride.
However, the rise of illegal traders threatens to undermine this progress if urgent action is not taken.
The Bulawayo City Council appears to be struggling to contain the situation, as shown by the shocking discovery of 1,5 tonnes of rotten elephant meat at Hillside Junior School, as well as the seizure of nearly 128 kilogrammes of unlabelled beef at a butchery in Barbourfields.
On top of this, city health officials have uncovered widespread violations related to licensing, hygiene, and public health, raising serious concerns about food safety and consumer protection.
In such circumstances, law-abiding citizens are left questioning whether the city council has enough capacity to carry out continuous monitoring and enforce by-laws governing business activities.
Strong enforcement is necessary to protect both genuine businesses and the public from unscrupulous dealers.
In my humble opinion, this situation calls for firm action, including permanently banning repeat offenders in order to protect Zimbabwe’s business reputation both at home and abroad.
If illegal practices in Bulawayo are allowed to continue unchecked, they risk damaging the image of legitimate businesses across the country. As the saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine.”
