Airtime, sweets vendors to pay monthly rentals in Bulawayo

Bulawayo City Council is set to erect thousands of special vending bays for airtime, newspaper dealers in the central business district and charge monthly rentals in a move seen as efforts to raise money.

 In its latest report, the local authority said the advent of mobile phone business has resulted in upsurge of vendors.

It said most vendors are not licensed.

In a bid to raise revenue, council has resolved to erect 1118 airtime vending sites and 55 for newspapers.

 However, such sites will not be set up close to the Reserve Bank Building and the Central Police station.

 Charges for the sites will depend on its location and its business volumes.

"It has been realised that almost 80 percent of vendors selling are time are doing so without approval (Licence) from council.

"Some of the airtime vendors are selling airtime and newspapers in the middle of roads and are at a risk of being knocked or killed by vehicles during the course of their business.

"It is therefore the duty of council to plan for airtime/newspaper vendors at the intersections of roads (street corners) and ensuing that all airtime/ newspaper vendors are licenced".

The local authority said most vendors are also selling sweets, belts, cigarettes, jiggies and matches without approval, hence losing on revenue.

Council said bays located in areas with high volume of trarric should be 'charged a monthly  rental of US$15 (bays between 6th  Avenue and 10th Avenue) while bays sited where there is a low volume of traffic should be charged a monthly rental of US$12.00 (bays between 11th Avenue and 15th Avenue and 5th Avenue and Masotsha Ndlovu.

"Bays outside the central business district would attract a US$10 monthly rental".