GWERU– City of Gweru has given vendors illegally operating in the central business district an ultimatum to vacate the streets by monthend failure of which will result in confiscation of their wares without notice.
Town Clerk, Elizabeth Gwatipedza said licensed vendors should move back to their designated selling spaces and those operating illegally should apply for licenses.
“Notice is hereby given that all vendors who have deserted their legal vending bays should return to their original bays by 28th February 2017.
“Thereafter council will confiscate goods that are being sold on illegal vending points without further notice.
“Those who need legal trading space should apply to council,” said Gwatipedza.
She added that push carts will not be allowed within the Central Business District (CBD) including vehicles selling goods at undesignated areas.
Vendors however say they are not moving as there is no business in the designated areas.
A majority of vendors selling in the pavements say they were only allocated vendor numbers but have not been given vending stalls despite their application for selling spaces.
Polite Sibanda, a vendor says the number of people in need of vending space outnumbers the bays that were availed by council effectively meaning that compliance with the city order will not work.
Another vendor only identified as Mai Zvavamwe said others have resorted to selling their wares after 5 pm when council workers would have knocked off.
Irene Zhou who sells second hand clothing says council should understand that they are trying to make a living and the designated selling points are unprofitable as human traffic is low due to their secluded nature.
She added that corruption in the allocation of vending stalls has resulted in some individuals being multiple owners of vending bays which they further rent out for US$20 a week, a reason the majority of vendors opt for streets as the costs are unbearable.
“We have individuals who own more than 10 vending tables pamabhero using their worker’s names and they only come every week to collect their rental monies.
“I realised this was unprofitable and moved to the pavements to join the other unlicensed vendors because that’s where business is and after all I don’t pay any rent,” said Mrs Zhou.
She also added that most vending bays are unhygienic and difficult to operate from as they have no running water or ablution facilities.
Vendor’s representative Mr Lovemore Reketayi is on record warning council to approach the vendors issue cautiously and provide viable alternatives before chasing people out of the streets.
“Council has to be careful on this issue because tempers flare with its mention.
“Some vendors are swearing that even if they bring the police or soldiers to remove them they won’t budge, its better blood be spilled,” he said.
“They must go through registered vendor representatives so that they can dialogue and negotiate and we highlight the positives and negatives of moving to the new stalls, if they are available.”
