Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
Vendors have become a major menace in Zimbabwe’s Second largest City, Bulawayo tarnishing the image of being the cleanest City in the country.
Vendors have literally overcrowded every inch or corner of the town, illegally operating where they are not allowed to.
The situation along 5th Avenue from Joshua. M. N. Nkomo Street to Josiah Tongogara Street has become out of control as vendors have taken over all the spaces on the tarmac and pavements.
The place is impassable.
Last week it was dog eat dog as the City authorities flexed some muscles and took the fight to the vendors.
Previously in a related story this publication had asked if City Fathers still possess the City By-laws.
Thus, the responsible authorities on Monday were seen removing illegal vendors from the Central Business District.
The Council Municipal Police was being aided by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZRP, on their raids to cleanse the streets.
The move by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) can be louded as a path towards the right direction since vendors have congested the streets, infested thoroughfare lanes with dirt and blocked pavements.
It is unfortunate that while executing their duties, the BCC and the ZRP have to confisticate wares forcibly taken from the illegal vendors as the initial punishment before the perpetrator is arrested.
While vendors might have left the streets, it is only temporary, yet the damage that has been caused by these illegal sellers cannot be ignored.
Some places along 5th Avenue are now mosquito infested and flies have found permanent homes due to dampness and rotting tomatoes and other vegetables, the tarmac has been permanently damaged, there is the issue of pushcarts who are exacerbating the situation.
In a related article, in an interview with CITE, BCC Deputy Mayor Ward 1 Councillor, Mlandu Ncube once admitted that the vendors are now a challenge.
“It seems its now a political move. Our municipal police officers tried to remove them but they became violent. We keep trying to ward them out”, said Ncube.
The on-going process of removing vendors is to remind them that they have designated bays in locations where they can legally carry out their businesses.
One vendor interviewed identified as NaMpilo said that they were given the right to carry out their business along 5th avenue by a political party, ZANU-PF.
It is an illegal act for ZANU-PF to grant vendor places to do their work. It creates chaos . What if the supermarkets follow their traits, what will happen?
Granting of bays is predominantly the prerogative of the city council. ZANU-PF is a political party which by law is not responsible for partaking in designation of bays.
Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni again once lamented the illegal occupancy of 5th Avenue by vendors uttered,
“The Joint Operation Command (JOC) is now handling the removal of vendors. Its now a security issue as much as it is political. We escalated the issue to the Provincial Minister’s office”.
JOC comprises of top hierarchy of the Army, ZRP, Prisons as well as their Central Intelligence Organisation, (CIO).
Why the City Mayor has surrendered the removal of vendors to JOC beats all logic.
Efforts to get in touch with the city council communication department were fruitless.