Shop owners raise concern over vendors

Tanaka Mahanya

SHOP owners have raised concern over vendors who continue to invade Simon Muzenda Street bus terminus.

The vendors sell food, fruits, vegetables, kitchenware and clothes.

However, the shop owners believe this is unfair, since they pay rentals and license fees monthly.

One of the shop owners said this was affecting their business.

“We understand that they also want to earn a living but they are doing so at our expense. Most of the time, they block the way and our shops are not that visible to people moving around.

“At the end of the day, we fail to make money,” he said.

Another shop owner said Council should construct more malls where vendors can sell their goods.

“This is not a proper place for them to sell, considering that the area is not clean. Council is not collecting litter and food vendors have now crowded the place, including those who sell cooked food. With the cholera outbreak, I believe this is not a safe place to operate from.

“We are afraid that this might lead to cholera, since there is no hygiene,” she said.

She said the place was now very congested. “It is not surprising that people lose their valuables to thieves every day.

“Thieves take advantage of the overcrowding, hence the need to find another suitable place for the vendors.”