Your days are numbered- BCC warns ‘osiphatheleni’

ILLEGAL money changers who obstruct pavements in the city centre may soon find themselves running afoul of the Bulawayo City Council municipal police.
Since the recruitment of 600 new municipal police officers late last year, the council has deployed them into the streets to remove illegal vendors who had turned pavements into mini shopping malls, creating a headache for shoppers.

However, there has recently been some semblance of order, with pavements largely clear during the day. Nevertheless, vendors still flood the streets at night once municipal police have finished their shifts. The usually heavily congested Tredgold area, Sixth Avenue, and the streets around Bulawayo Centre are now experiencing some relief due to the strong daytime presence of municipal police.
Responding to questions, city Mayor Councillor David Coltart acknowledged the improvements but stressed that more needs to be done to restore order, particularly concerning illegal money changers, some of whom even bring their own chairs onto the streets.

“We continue to engage other stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Judicial Service Commission, and the National Prosecuting Authority to find a lasting solution. Our efforts and engagements are ongoing, and we remain committed to achieving a final resolution,” said Cllr Coltart.