News / National
Radical Thinkers needed to resolve vending problem
10 Jun 2015 at 07:16hrs | Views
Harare Residents Trust says it is shocked at the insensitivity being displayed upon the livelihoods of vendors by Central Government officials, army and local authorities' management and policymakers. The ultimatum has been extended to June 26 amid concerns that the evictions will affect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in the country.
'The ultimatum pronounced for vendors to vacate the central business district was clearly misplaced, insensitive and hypocritical. What is needed are critical thinkers who can urgently resolve our economic challenges and create space for these progressive Zimbabweans eking out a living through vending," said the Trust.
"Vendors are human beings with human rights, protected by the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Of course, the vendors have caused untold inconveniences to motorists, businesses who pay taxes to the Government, and pedestrians along the streets and pavements."
The Trust said Section 77 of the Zimbabwean Constitution places a duty and responsibility on the Government and its agencies to ensure the progressive realisation of the right to food and water to the citizenry.
"The Government is expected to take reasonable legislative and other measures to realise these constitutional rights. In terms of the national objectives, under Chapter Two, Section 14 (2) "At all times, the State and all institutions and agencies of Government, at every level must ensure that appropriate and adequate measures are undertaken to create employment for all Zimbabweans, especially women and youths," said the Trust.
The TRust said vendors did not just emerge from nowhere to be on the streets.
"They once worked and some left college hoping to be absorbed in the job market. Industries continue to close, and jobs are being lost," said the Trust. "But families still have to eat, to have clothing, and shelter. They still require essential services at household level. To get them they have to work, and get money and food on the table. The HRT has always monitored the developments on the streets and sadly we have observed the mighty hand of greedy politicians and employees of council and councillors taking advantage of the vulnerable members of society."
The Trust said government promised them places to operate from in exchange for either votes or security during political campaigns.
"On 28 May 2015, the Harare City Council Full Council established an Informal Sector Committee to deal with the issue of vendors and small to medium enterprises, driven by their desire to make vendors operate legally, paying to the council than to few corrupt individuals," said the Trust. "The Council does not have a clear policy or strategy on how to handle street vending; neither does the Government have any plausible intervention."
The trust condemned the comments made by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Dr Ignatius Chombo, Joint Operations Command representative soldier Brigadier General Anselem Sanyatwe, and Miriam Chikukwa, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province were insensitive and meant to instil fear and despondence among the vendors.
"These statements should be neutralised by a clear coordinated response of the citizens who daily bear the brunt of poor and incoherent policies by the Government and its agencies on addressing the socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation," said the Trust.
"Minister Chombo is indirectly saying the local authorities have failed to deal with the social economic challenges in Zimbabwe, and his Ministry, the military, the intelligence and the police have capacity and better approaches to handle local government at local level."
The Trust said it is a pity that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, by roping in the military and police, is trying to address symptoms of an ailing economy instead of focusing on reviving collapsed industries.
"Vendors will naturally disappear from the streets because there would be jobs," said the Trust. "The mere involvement of other arms of the State above the local government sector, is evidence of a sinister agenda at undermining the authority of the elected councils, who have a Constitutional mandate to deliver an effective and efficient services to the citizenry as defined by Section 276 (1) which specifically says "Subject to this Constitution, and any Act of Parliament, a local authority has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of the people within the area for which it has been established, and all has all the powers necessary for it to do so."
The Trust said government promised 2.5 million jobs in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET), the national economic blueprint, lest we forget!
"The military should be confined to their barracks and not be brought in to settle purely civilian matters like bringing order in vending activities," said the Trust.
While defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi has since distanced the army from the vendors evictions.
'The ultimatum pronounced for vendors to vacate the central business district was clearly misplaced, insensitive and hypocritical. What is needed are critical thinkers who can urgently resolve our economic challenges and create space for these progressive Zimbabweans eking out a living through vending," said the Trust.
"Vendors are human beings with human rights, protected by the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Of course, the vendors have caused untold inconveniences to motorists, businesses who pay taxes to the Government, and pedestrians along the streets and pavements."
The Trust said Section 77 of the Zimbabwean Constitution places a duty and responsibility on the Government and its agencies to ensure the progressive realisation of the right to food and water to the citizenry.
"The Government is expected to take reasonable legislative and other measures to realise these constitutional rights. In terms of the national objectives, under Chapter Two, Section 14 (2) "At all times, the State and all institutions and agencies of Government, at every level must ensure that appropriate and adequate measures are undertaken to create employment for all Zimbabweans, especially women and youths," said the Trust.
The TRust said vendors did not just emerge from nowhere to be on the streets.
"They once worked and some left college hoping to be absorbed in the job market. Industries continue to close, and jobs are being lost," said the Trust. "But families still have to eat, to have clothing, and shelter. They still require essential services at household level. To get them they have to work, and get money and food on the table. The HRT has always monitored the developments on the streets and sadly we have observed the mighty hand of greedy politicians and employees of council and councillors taking advantage of the vulnerable members of society."
The Trust said government promised them places to operate from in exchange for either votes or security during political campaigns.
"On 28 May 2015, the Harare City Council Full Council established an Informal Sector Committee to deal with the issue of vendors and small to medium enterprises, driven by their desire to make vendors operate legally, paying to the council than to few corrupt individuals," said the Trust. "The Council does not have a clear policy or strategy on how to handle street vending; neither does the Government have any plausible intervention."
The trust condemned the comments made by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Dr Ignatius Chombo, Joint Operations Command representative soldier Brigadier General Anselem Sanyatwe, and Miriam Chikukwa, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province were insensitive and meant to instil fear and despondence among the vendors.
"These statements should be neutralised by a clear coordinated response of the citizens who daily bear the brunt of poor and incoherent policies by the Government and its agencies on addressing the socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation," said the Trust.
"Minister Chombo is indirectly saying the local authorities have failed to deal with the social economic challenges in Zimbabwe, and his Ministry, the military, the intelligence and the police have capacity and better approaches to handle local government at local level."
The Trust said it is a pity that the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, by roping in the military and police, is trying to address symptoms of an ailing economy instead of focusing on reviving collapsed industries.
"Vendors will naturally disappear from the streets because there would be jobs," said the Trust. "The mere involvement of other arms of the State above the local government sector, is evidence of a sinister agenda at undermining the authority of the elected councils, who have a Constitutional mandate to deliver an effective and efficient services to the citizenry as defined by Section 276 (1) which specifically says "Subject to this Constitution, and any Act of Parliament, a local authority has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of the people within the area for which it has been established, and all has all the powers necessary for it to do so."
The Trust said government promised 2.5 million jobs in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET), the national economic blueprint, lest we forget!
"The military should be confined to their barracks and not be brought in to settle purely civilian matters like bringing order in vending activities," said the Trust.
While defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi has since distanced the army from the vendors evictions.
Source - Byo24News
