Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environments and Health Reporter
Informal traders operating from sites that Bulawayo City Council is saying it will drive away vendors from this coming Wednesday, have vowed to resist any attempts to move them.
“We have heard and we assure you that this doesn’t shake us because the Council said we must move during COVID-19 so as for them to clean the City which was a statement from the government that they must take advantage and clean the city not to chase us away. We made an agreement with them
for us to do our business here. We are going nowhere, they will be the ones who are going to move. “, said Nathan Ngwenya.
In response to Council’s proposed ‘murambatsvina’ slated this Wednesday most of vendors that the Bulawayo City Council is targeting to remove from the so called undesignated trading sites claim that they are in the streets because of lack of jobs.
Responding to the City Council’s claim that there are legal sites in excess of 10 000 bays which vendors have shunned, these traders believe vending bays the City Fathers want them to move to are far from their targeted customers.
“There is lack of employment and for us to make any meaningful sales, we have to locate our trading bays where our potential customers frequently like. The current crop of city Fathers is just clueless. Why was the City clean during the era of Joshua Nkomo. It’s not our fault that the Council is failing on the issue of refuse collection. We shall not be moved, if they want to kill us let them do that.” Ngoba babewazi umsebenzi wabo, laba they are failing umsebenzi wabo. Imota kamabhimu iyenzwa yithi ukuthi ife? Thina amavendors sitheni? Thina as vendor we will remain here nxa besibulala bazasibulalela khona.”, a vendor identified as Ngwenya said.
One Blessing Chidanire said the Council should have engaged the vendors first instead of spoiling for war.
“We have no where to go to because of the state of the economy. They blame us for bringing charcoal at the Central Business District but they don’t realise we are actually making a living from it”, Chidanire said.
Another vendor Samuel Chiwawe told ZIM GBC NEWS that the power that be should expert running battles with vendors because traders like himself see no business sense in being forced to operate from sites that clearly are not viable.
“We are going to move for a bit and come back. They may try by all means but we are going nowhere”, said Chiwawe.
Below we publish again the full statement by Bulawayo City Council on its plans to rid the City of unauthorized traders and transporters who flaunt the City’s by-laws:
The City of Bulawayo would like to advise all stakeholders that it will be conducting an exercise to rid the City of all unauthorized activities with the effect from Wednesday, 11th January 2023.
All persons conducting the unauthorized informal trading on undesignated sites in the City of Bulawayo (on the streets, pavements, roadways) washing cars, repairing of vehicles, illegal pickup points by private vehicles, commuter omnibuses and buses, delivery of farm produce and other products onto the streets, push carts, heavy commercial vehicles into the Central Business District, illegal throwing and dumping of garbage or litter etc are given up to Tuesday, 10 January 2023 to cease their illegal activities.
With the effect from Wednesday, 11th January 2023 the City of Bulawayo will be conducting an exercise to eliminate ALL illegal activities so as to restore order and cleanliness.
The City has designated informal trading cities in the Central Business District and Suburban areas. All those who are interested in trading in the authorised sites are advised to visit the City of Bulawayo Vending Offices at the former Dugmore Clinic Offices along Basch Street for registration and licencing.
The City encourages trading at designated sites in terms of the Municipal by Laws. This fosters peace, cleanliness, and control of all informal trading activities through the association which have Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with the City.
Offenders will be prosecuted. mlotshwanothando06@gmail.com