Harare food vendors challenge council ultimatum

Representatives of vendor associations have filed an urgent court application to stop council's 48-hour council ultimatum for all food vendors to vacate the streets of Harare.

Queen of Grace ZIMASSET Trust spokesperson, McNorman Chitongo confirmed the development.

The Harare City Council yesterday gave all food vendors operating within the central business district (CBD) a 48-hour ultimatum to cease operations as a measure to curb the typhoid outbreak.

The council's ultimatum follows preliminary investigations indicating that unregulated vending of foodstuffs, lack of personal hygiene and inadequate water supplies are the key drivers of typhoid and other water-borne diseases in the capital.

Zimbabwe is battling to contain the spread of typhoid in Harare which has to date killed two while nine cases have been confirmed positive.