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Marshall Bwanya Features Writer
It is the “hustler’s” paradise.
It is notorious, and now it stands dilapidated, dirty and dingy, but there is a spirit one can never kill.It is the very spirit of the Ximex Mall. The mall, located at the corner of Jason Moyo Avenue and Angwa Street in Harare, was closed in August because it was deemed unfit for human habitation, has been a haven for illegal street dealers, who sell anything from cellphones (some stolen) to hard drugs.
They have a word for that – “hustling” – redolent of American-style street dealings.
And if one expected Ximex hustlers to disappear with the closure of the mall, they were wrong.
Not even a police cordon, effected on Monday this week, can keep them away. The reason is simple: Ximex Mall is a front in a battle for survival.
The Ximex soldiers also lay claim to honour.
“It is disturbing that some sections of society portray us as thieves and agents of prostitution which is far from the truth,” said one dealer who identified himself as Munya.
“The truth of the matter is that we are decent unemployed youths who are trying to make a living in times of such economic hardships. It is disturbing that some people have the audacity to treat us as social misfits and delinquents simply because we are trying to make ends meet for our families,” he said.
One Panganai said the economic situation and high levels of unemployment forced him become a cellphone dealer.
“I am a qualified surveyor and I worked at Trojan Nickel Mine in Bindura from 2006 until 2008,” said Panganai.
“Because I could not find employment I started operating as a cell- phone dealer outside Ximex Mall. I have a family to feed and bills to pay, so where else can I make a decent living in the country when employment is so scarce?” he asked.
He said he has applied for the Ku- rera/Ukondla Youth Empowerment Fund, but his application was turned down on several occasions. Now Ximex Mall is his hope.
A dealer who identified himself as Tonde said he had no intention of taking his business elsewhere.
“We are not going anywhere and we are here to stay! If local authorities or anyone else wants us to permanently evacuate the mall there should employ us.
“I do not understand why police arrest us for causing obstruction when no one is coming to shop at Ximex Mall ever since it closed down,” he said.
Tonde said it was not in his interest to relocate his business elsewhere because customers now regarded Ximex Mall as a trading hub for cell- phones, iPads and other computer accessories.
Another dealer who preferred anonymity said raids carried out by police were only meant to serve their selfish interests and pockets.
“Police authorities only arrest us to solicit for bribes.
“What is most disturbing is that they manhandle us as if we were hardcore criminals sending a wrong message to the public.
“When other members of the public see us being manhandled they assume we are hardcore criminals who have been caught on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
Paul Zvakanaka says not everything they sell here is stolen.
“We buy and sell a variety of cell- phones and other accessories without considering whether they were stolen or not because we simply do not have the luxury or time to check whether the person selling them is genuine or not because we are trying to make a living and earn some money.
“Not everything we sell is ‘stolen’ some of the phones are sold by rightful owners who are in desperate need for a quick cash transaction,” he said.
Zvakanaka said some civil servants including police, soldiers and teachers even sold them phones they had acquired on public service credit facilities.
Tafadzwa, another dealer, said: “In some instances we may argue over customers or disagree on profit sharing over a sold cellphone or item. But that does not mean we do not get along because we are brothers of the same struggle.
“We may have our minor differences but we also have understanding that we are in the same boat. Hence we trust each other.
This has proliferated to pollution at the mall reaching critical heights as some of the rooms are stuffed with piles of litter and rubbish thrown away by the wheelers and dealers outside the building.
Police maintain an eye on Ximex Mall.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tadius Chibanda said:
“It is not conclusive that all the phones that are being sold are stolen but as police we suspect that some of the cellphones and laptops being sold at Ximex Mall, Gulf Shopping Complex, areas along Cameroon Street and Abercorn Avenue are stolen.
“Some of the phone and laptop serial numbers given by apprehended dealers do not tally with actual serial numbers of the phones and laptops they have in possession,” he said.
Inspector Chibanda said the recently launched operation, code-named Restore Order, served to mitigate some of the illegal operation carried outside the mall.
National Social Security Authority, the owners of the Ximex Mall building, are eyeing a facelift for the beleaguered ashen building.
NSSA public relations manager Mr Phillimon Chereni said: “NSSA has already begun the process of addressing the issues pertaining to Ximex Mall. An informal tender for the demolition of the existing structure has already been advertised in the local media. Demolition is expected to start January 2014.
“It is and always has been NSSA’s intention to add value and benefit to our community through all of its ventures, the Ximex Mall site is no exception. Upon purchasing this property the authority experienced challenges with non-performing tenants, but these were recently resolved after a lengthy court case.
“The authority looks forward to redeveloping the site for the advantage of our stakeholders and the community at large,” he said.
Mr Chereni said NSSA was not aware of any illegal activities being perpetrated outside the building as the area outside property walls a public domain and was hoping that the police would bring to an end all illegal activities being carried out if there be any.
NSSA has so far hired guards to secure the premises. Local authorities have been blamed by some residents for turning blind eye on the piles of rubbish and litter lying at mall.
The consummating smell of urine, and piles of litter has, however, not deterred some customers from trading with dealers operating outside the mall.
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that we are in the same boat. Hence we
trust each other.
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