News / Local
Riot police in a surprise lunch time raid on Bulawayo vendors
23 Oct 2013 at 12:13hrs | Views
Vendors at Batch Street terminus in Bulawayo popularly known as Egodini were today engaged in running battles with riot police as their goods were confiscated, Zimbabwe Focus reported.
Riot police mounted a surprise lunch time raid of the zone causing panic.
Two truck loads of riot police descended at the trading area and without warning started confiscating all wares in sight.
"We found ourselves surrounded by riot police as if we are criminals" said a vendor who identified herself as Primrose.
"I lost all my vegetables" she said.
The site is popular with food stuff trades who pay rentals to Bulawayo City Council.
There have been media reports that over 600 informal vendors operating at the Lobengula mall will be evicted at the end of November as the Bulawayo City Council moves to clear the areas around Batch Street terminus.
BCC plan to turn the place into a regional transport hub and shopping complex.
BCC recently issued a four-month notice to small-scale businesspeople operating in the area to vacate the same area by December 19.
A council notice (Ref TR8) dated August 19 2013 states that the local authority resolved to offer an undisclosed company a tender to redevelop Batch Street terminus and advised all occupants in the area to wind up operations.
The council advised the occupants to clear all their arrears amounting to $2 898,95 as at August 31 2013 within the given period.
Riot police mounted a surprise lunch time raid of the zone causing panic.
Two truck loads of riot police descended at the trading area and without warning started confiscating all wares in sight.
"We found ourselves surrounded by riot police as if we are criminals" said a vendor who identified herself as Primrose.
"I lost all my vegetables" she said.
The site is popular with food stuff trades who pay rentals to Bulawayo City Council.
There have been media reports that over 600 informal vendors operating at the Lobengula mall will be evicted at the end of November as the Bulawayo City Council moves to clear the areas around Batch Street terminus.
BCC plan to turn the place into a regional transport hub and shopping complex.
BCC recently issued a four-month notice to small-scale businesspeople operating in the area to vacate the same area by December 19.
A council notice (Ref TR8) dated August 19 2013 states that the local authority resolved to offer an undisclosed company a tender to redevelop Batch Street terminus and advised all occupants in the area to wind up operations.
The council advised the occupants to clear all their arrears amounting to $2 898,95 as at August 31 2013 within the given period.
Source - zimbabwe focus
