Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
BULAWAYO – City authorities are launching a major enforcement operation to clear Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD) of illegal vendors, who are overwhelmingly shunning over 10,000 officially designated vending bays, Zim GBC News can reveal.
The crackdown follows a clear directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, which has banned street vending, night vending, and the sale of second-hand clothes.
The government contends that the proliferation of informal trading is undermining formal businesses that pay rates and taxes, while also creating sanitation hazards.
During a recent full council meeting, the chairperson of the Health, Housing and Education Committee, Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, raised the alarm over the growing defiance.
“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 also expressed concern over fellow Councillors who opposed the directive, warning that such actions undermine efforts to restore order. She recommended a joint operation involving all security sectors for effectiveness.
Reinforcing the City’s position, Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube stated that the government’s stance is 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 issued a stern warning to Councillors who might interfere, stating they would be reported to the parent Ministry. He also highlighted the core of the issue, noting,
“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.”
Echoing the public health concerns, the Director of Health Services, Dr Edwin Mzingwane, welcomed the directive, confirming that the Council had already taken measures to improve City cleanliness, though night sweeping remains challenging due to security and lighting issues.
The Council’s stance was further bolstered by comments from the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, who recently addressed the issue in Bulawayo.
“We do not have laws that allow them to sell at night; hence, they are breaking the law and, while at it, they are inconveniencing other citizens of Zimbabwe,” Minister Garwe told Zim GBC News.
He directly linked unregulated vending to health risks, explaining,
“They do not have proper sanitization, and as such, where do they go to relieve themselves? In the gutters, which makes them a catalyst for the spread of cholera.”
The Minister also highlighted the economic impact, stating,
“These vendors do not pay tax, which in turn cripples the economy. As a result, the vision for 2030 is hindered, and economic growth is very slow.”
Despite the impending crackdown, many vendors remain unfazed, with some citing the expenses of relocating and establishing themselves in new, designated areas as a major deterrent. Some state that the bays are far away from pedestrian traffic.
The outcome of the planned joint enforcement operation is now being closely watched, as authorities seek to restore Bulawayo’s status as one of the cleanest cities in the region.
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