Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged vendors to cease operating at night, citing concerns over security and a lack of necessary sanitary facilities, which could lead to disease outbreaks.
Following a meeting between the President and vendor representatives, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe told journalists that the President had issued a clear warning against night vending.
“The Ministry will now take leadership in reigning in all local authorities that are ill-treating vendors. But more importantly, night vending is not allowed; His Excellency was very clear on that,” Garwe said.
He added that those who operate at night are not part of the registered vendors and highlighted the lack of ablution facilities, which pose a health risk.
“The people who are night vending are creating fertile ground for drug and substance abuse activities. These same people are also facilitating the distribution of counterfeit products, which are sold at night and find their way into people’s homes, further exacerbating health concerns,” Garwe explained.
“We are very grateful to His Excellency for providing leadership,” he said. He also took the opportunity to reprimand municipal police for harassing vendors.
“The municipal police must stop fighting and harassing vendors. There are better ways of communicating,” he stressed.
Garwe said President Mnangagwa had directed the ministries of Local Government and Public Works and Women Affairs, Communities, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, to ensure the provision of sustainable, modern working spaces for vendors.
“We are going to be working with other government agencies and ministries to implement this immediately,” he said.
New Ziana
