Natalie Nyathi,
The narrative Economic Development For for President Mnangagwa has gone into overdrive as every sector is now using it as the campaign for the 2023 general elections heats up.
The citizenry has seen the eruption of Teachers for ED, Hwindis for ED, Young Women for ED, Youths for ED, the list is. endless.
There now is Vendors for ED.
While the narrative, ED, has been obscured to mean Economic Development, commentators have pointed out that it actually stands for Emmerson Dambudzo, President Mnangagwa’s names.
Vendors for ED has launched its Bulawayo Chapter which ended in protest against the Bulawayo City Council.
Multitudes of Vendors assembled at the Large City Hall for the official launch of the Vendors 4ED Bulawayo Chapter.
Vendors were seen marching in town yesterday, chanting slogans, singing and holding banners with President Mnangagwa’s face.
During the launch, vendors accused the Bulawayo City Council of victimising them in the Central Business District.
Vendors have taken over the City, setting up vending stalls any place they believe they can sell their wares.
In response, the Bulawayo City Council, supported by the City’s By-Laws raid and confiscate these wares from vendors who are occupying undesignated vending space.
While the cry for one to erk a living through vending is justified, the City Fathers are saying this should be done according to the laws of the country.
While Vendors for ED blame the Council for the raids, the City Council officers execute these raids with the assistance from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who are enforcers of the law.
Bulawayo City Council is the custodian of the law.
Vendors are ever resisting to trade at allocated vending bays, wantonly occupying every corner of the City.
Last week this publication carried a story on how the City has lost its status of. being the cleanest City in the country.
Vending poses as serious challenge of the cleanliness of the City.
According to Cite, vendors said they were marching against harassment of vendors by City Council.
At the launch, Samora Chisvo, Vendors 4ED Chairperson, said they would be looking into claims of harassment and engage the council over the allegations.
“This was the official launch of our Bulawayo Chapter, as well as introducing the leadership to the city. Amongst the agendas was to address issues affecting vendors.
“The main issue here is claims of victimisation by council officials. This is not a new thing across the nation and we seek to have it addressed,” said Mr Chisvo.
“This has to stop. Vendors are economic drivers in this nation. Once their goods are confiscated often council auctions the goods, or in some instances share among themselves. This is a bad practice and it has to stop.”
He added:
“Vendors are economic stakeholders as they are the linkage between the producers and the end users therefore, they are critical players towards the country’s economy therefore they should not be victimised and criticised as they are actually adding value and production towards the economy.”
He said vendors in as much as they were regarded as an eyesore in the city, actually contributed to the country’s gross domestic product.
“The chapter will not allow vendors to be moved from their places of vending. We will never allow anyone to discriminate and disrupt your business. It is advisable that vendors communicate their needs to the chapter so that we are made aware of your needs as vendors,” he said.
He did not elaborate on how vending adds value to GDP nor how they are going to. stop the City Council from harassing the vendors.