Source: Bulawayo vendors shun 10 000 designated bays – herald
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Senior Reporter
Despite Bulawayo city centre having over 10 000 vending bays sufficient to accommodate all informal traders and help curb illegal vending, most traders are shunning these designated areas and opting to operate illegally instead.
This comes as the Government has said the proliferation of street and night vending was undermining formal businesses, which have remained loyal to local authorities by paying rates, bills and taxes.
This has resulted in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works banning street and night vending and the selling of second-hand clothes.
Local authorities in the country were directed to enforce this ban and remove illegal vendors from undesignated areas in the city centres.
According to the latest monthly council minutes, during a recent full council meeting, the chairperson of the Health, Housing and Education Committee, Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, raised concerns over the growing defiance of Government directives and the negative impact of illegal vending on the city’s cleanliness.
“The minister, in his last visit to the city, instructed council to remove all the illegal vendors from undesignated areas in the CBD. This was aimed at cleaning the city. Vending activities contributed a lot to illegal dumping and littering,” she said.
Clr Khumalo bemoaned councillors who opposed the Central Government directive to return sanity to the city, warning that such actions undermined efforts to maintain order.
“The committee was registering its concerns regarding the implementation of the Central Government directive. This time, a request should be made during the JOC meeting to have an operation that would involve all members of the security sector for effectiveness,” she added.
The town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, has reaffirmed the city’s position, stressing that the Government’s stance on illegal vending was unambiguous and must be implemented without hesitation.
“The Central Government directive was very clear and illegal vendors should be removed from the CBD.
“Night vending and the sale of second-hand clothes were banned and enforcement operations are on the cards,” he said.
Mr Dube added that enforcement operations would be supported by the parent ministry, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other stakeholders to ensure full compliance.
“The city had more than 10 000 vending bays, which were being shunned by illegal vendors, preferring to embark on illegal activities in the CBD.
“Councillors should support council programmes and the enforcement of by-laws. If any councillor interfered in enforcement, they would be reported to the parent ministry,” said Mr Dube.
The director of health services, Dr Edwin Mzingwane, also welcomed the ministerial directive, noting that council had taken measures to improve cleanliness in the city.
“Currently, only refuse is collected at night. Sweeping was affected by poor lighting at night and other security concerns. Council had a team that patrolled at night,” he said.
The latest stance by the council underscores renewed efforts to enforce order in Bulawayo’s CBD, as authorities intensify measures to curb illegal vending and restore the city’s status as one of the cleanest urban centres in the region.
Vendors have been unfazed by several BCC announcements of a relocation to designated stalls.
While some vendors have in the past expressed a willingness to move if the process is organised, others raise concerns about the expenses involved in relocating and establishing themselves in a new location.
BCC also banned pushcarts from the CBD in line with the Government directive to restore sanity and clear city centres of illegal informal trading activity.
The decision follows widespread concerns over rampant illegal vending operations in towns and cities, including night vending and pushcarts, which have been blamed for frustrating formal business operations, harbouring criminality, indiscriminate littering and violations of public health and safety regulations.
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