In an effort to keep Victoria Falls town clean, the Municipality has began raiding and weeding out
illegal vendors to ensure that the country’s premier tourist destination is clean and organised.
However this has not gone down well with the said vendors whom the municipality is accusing of
causing land pollution through littering.
Town Clerk Ronnie Dube said those found trading illegally will be penalised while the municipality
will also confiscate their products and wares.
“Victoria Falls City Council wishes to warn residents and stakeholders against vending and selling of
wares on undesignated areas,” Dube said.
The local authority owns several designated areas of trade, from which prospective traders can sell
their goods and wares but as with many other towns and cities, vendors prefer to operate from
where they are nearer customers and also avoid paid rent.
” Thus, strategic traders are encouraged to utilise such facilities for orderly business transactions as
undesignated vending has also given an alarming rise to littering and unhygienic practices in Victoria
Falls. Therefore in our quest to restore order Council has deployed its security personnel to clear the
community of unlicensed traders,” he said.
He added that those found to be trading on undesignated areas and operating without licenses will
be penalised while urging residents and stakeholders to report those operating at illegal points.
Vendors operating from designated vending sites pay about US$20 annual licence fees while shop
licences range between US$100 and US$600 for small boutiques and grocery shops.