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CHAOS is fast reigning supreme in the once smart Chipinge town following an influx of street vendors on the pavements of the Central Business District.A check by The Manica Post reveals that many vendors have deserted designated vending places (musika) and have set up permanent bases on pavements along the town’s busy streets.
Interviewed vendors said they were paying licences at these undesignated places, meaning that the town council is legitimising their operations.
The influx of vendors at undesignated places is also worsened by the delays by the town council to finish the vending stalls project which was started in December 2013.
Currently vendors are operating in a temporary place where they are complaining of poor business especially during the rainy season.
In 2013, the town council promised to finish the new vending building within three months, but nothing materialised.
The vendors said they were opting for the CBD because of reliable water supplies as well as readily available toilets.
Some of the vendors have since set up permanent structures in front of big wholesales like Metro Peech, N.Richards and Farm and City Supply offering the same products.
A vendor, Mr Richard Gona, who sells an assortment of gadgets, second hand clothes and cellphones said business was brisk after moving onto the streets.
“The blame lies on the council for failing to provide proper vending sites.
“We were left with no option, but to move onto the town pavements because that is where business high. Customers were shunning the temporary vending site availed to us by the council,” he said.
Chipinge Town Flea Market chairperson, Mr George Chirenzi, said it was important for the local authority to move in and provide a permanent vending place in the town.
He said the council was not seriously considering their plight despite them paying to operate.
“We are calling on the council to finish the vending project it started two years ago. It looks as if they have forgotten the vendors’ plight. The disorder being caused by vendors in the CBD is due to the council’s delays to locate a proper place for vendors.
“There is an urgent need to address this situation because it will be total chaos on the streets,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Chipinge Town Council chairperson, Councillor Lovemore Huni were fruitless at the time of going to Press as his mobile phone was not reachable.
Online Reporter