Norman Dururu
GWERU City Council has ordered illegal vendors operating in the Central Business District (CBD) to vacate the streets and return to designated trading areas before municipal police move in to enforce the directive.
The move is part of efforts to implement the Government’s National Clean-up, Restoration and Safety Programme, which seeks to address illegal trading, obstruction of public spaces, illegal parking, refuse collection, and other activities that compromise the functionality of CBDs.
Speaking during a meeting with vendors at the Gweru Civic Centre, the city’s Chamber Secretary, Dr Owen Masimba, said vendors would not be allowed to continue trading on pavements and other public spaces.
“No one is allowed to vend inside the CBD, and everyone should return to their designated spaces,” he said.
Dr Masimba said most vendors operating illegally in the CBD already have stalls or trading bays at bus ranks and other designated areas.
He said the engagement was not intended to wage war against informal traders, but to find a way to balance livelihoods with urban order.
“As a council, we decided to develop a humane transition process aimed at cleaning the CBD in agreement with all stakeholders,” he said.
Dr Masimba acknowledged that informal trading is an important source of livelihood for many families, but he said public spaces should retain their intended functions.
“Our task is to find a point where livelihoods and urban order can coexist. Roads, pavements, emergency routes, and other public spaces must retain their intended functions,” he said.
“People in wheelchairs should be able to move without obstacles such as tomatoes or other goods on the pavements.”
He warned that the council would enforce the regulations after giving vendors reasonable notice to relocate.
“We will enforce the rules after reasonable notice. You will be given time to move to designated spaces, after which we will come and inspect,” he said.
The council also promised to improve facilities by providing ablution blocks, water, and other services at designated trading areas. It will also review commuter bus ranks to ensure that relocated vendors have access to customers.
Unity Jaji, Deputy Director of Housing, said the council is registering vendors to allocate them trading spaces, with the current register containing more than 3,000 people.
She said vendors without designated spaces would be moved to the new Ivene rank by Monday, while those already allocated spaces should use them.
However, Gweru Vendors Association Secretary Angeline Zivanai accused the council of failing to give vendors adequate time to express their views.
“This was just window dressing so that tomorrow they can crack down on us under the pretext that they engaged us,” she said.
Vendor Douglas Kanengoni said the available trading spaces are inadequate and urged the council to create more.
Gweru Vendors and Traders Association Chairperson Godknows Mudzingwa said the council should construct more vending sheds at Mtapa Vegetable Market.
“Gweru is lagging behind in constructing vending sheds and markets for vendors,” he said.
