WE’RE GOING TO CLEAR FIRST STREET: MAYOR

Talent Gore

Harare City Council says it taken bold steps to end illegal vending in the First Street Mall in the heart of the capital’s Central Business District.

Illegal vendors have taken over street pavements and are selling the same stuff which is found in adjacent shops.

Responding to a resident on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said there were plans to remove vendors from the First Street Mall.

“First Street will be cleared soon, we cannot have this for these areas,” he said.

However, vendors who spoke to H-Metro said the council has to provide them with proper vending stalls in the CBD.

“We understand the need to maintain cleanliness and order, however, it is important to consider alternative arrangements for the vendors who depend on their businesses for survival,” said one vendor, Gogo Masibanda.

Another vendor, Tinashe Nyagomo said:

“The city should designate strategic places for vendors to operate from in an orderly manner using a four-arrow zoning system.

“This will promote order and sanity in the city. It will also allow the council to monitor the licensing of the same without any struggle.”

The First Street Mall used to be the premier resident-friendly street in the heart of Harare’s CBD because it’s a boulevard where traffic is very limited.

However, years of neglect by successive leaders at Harare City Council have left First Street Mall being choked by chaos and illegal vending.