Human Rights lawyers issue ultimatum to Chombo

Zimbabwe Lawyers for human Rights (ZLHR) has issued an ultimatum to Local Government Public works minister Ignatius Chombo over the ultimatum, which together with the Zimbabwe National Army they issued against city vendors to vacate undesignated selling points within seven days indicating that the move is a violation of people's rights.

ZLHR communications officer Kumbirai Mafunda said Human Rights Lawyers Issue Ultimatum To Chombo Over Deployment Of Soldiers To Chase Away Informal Traders

"Human rights lawyers representing some informal traders on Tuesday 02 June 2015 issued a 24 hour ultimatum to Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo to annul his plans to enlist the services of uniformed forces, the ZRP and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to chase away the traders as this is a violation of constitutional provisions relating to Security Services and the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe and a disregard by the government to the economic realities of Zimbabwe and the economic catastrophic effects of the planned move on the socio-economic rights of the traders," said Mafunda. "The lawyers also indicated that the planned exercise is inimical to the welfare and current needs of thousands of Zimbabwean citizens' lives."

Due to loss of jobs as the unemployment rate draws close to 90% many people survive through street vending and the move by the government is likely to affect millions of families livelihoods.