HRT makes proposals for dealing with vendors in Harare city

Harare Residents Trust have made an array of proposal to the council and government on how to de-congest the city as the vendors are reportedly crowding the city.

"To deal with the issue of vendors in the Central Business District (CBD), the Harare Residents' Trust (HRT) makes the following proposals; to de-congest busy roads like Robert Mugabe Way, Julius Nyerere Way, among others, the Council is urged to come up with a system that allows the vendors in the central business district at designated times like from 4pm- 9pm daily in designated areas," said the trust.

"Vendors may be allowed to trade their wares after 5pm in spaces like the area outside State Lotteries along Rezende Street up to Robert Mugabe Way, and close that space after 5pm to vehicles and allow the vendors to pitch their tables, and reserve some of the underutilised buildings at Town House for storing the wares and tables when they retire for bed."

The trust said each vendor would have a permanent operating number, and pay an agree fee per day, allowing them to pay in advance.

"This makes fees collection legal and transparent, with the money going into council coffers as opposed to the current situation where the money raised from vendors is largely benefiting municipal police officers who are using the money to buy personal vehicles and properties at the expense of the council," said the trust.

The trust said the council must build a permanent market place with fixed stalls at the space near Interpol Offices, Magistrates Court, and create a two or three storey structure that can accommodate plus 500 stalls on each floor.

"Investors can be found through build operate and transfer project management approaches," said the trust.

"Major businesses like supermarkets and hypermarkets could be incentivised to build their own properties in residential open spaces reserved for businesses in order to attract bankers and other downstream industries in those areas. This would attract people to establish their small businesses in the areas around those businesses, and therefore result in reduced inflow of traffic into the central business district"

The trust said in the areas where the Council has allocated residential stands, and where flats have been built, big supermarkets must seriously be encouraged to invest in those areas and therefore people living in those areas would not need to travel to the City Centre for services.

"Serious negotiations with property owners Old Mutual to reduce their rentals in areas they have put up state of the art infrastructure like High Glen and Westgate Shopping Malls where the rentals they charge are frighteningly high when viewed in the context of economic performance in Zimbabwe," said the trust.

"This task could be done by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Residents' Associations and Council or Government. The charges by Old Mutual are discriminatory and designed to perpetuate a culture of inequality in society where the rich have unhindered access to favourable properties and resources."

"The recommendations are not exhaustive but can form the basis for policy reforms in the Harare City Council, thereby making Harare the destination of choice to both travellers and investors."