'Vendors free to operate in Bulawayo,' says Mayor

Illegal vendors operating within Bulawayo Central Business district can now freely conduct their business without any hindrance.

Bulawayo mayor, Martin Moyo yesterday said his council was divided on whether to arrest illegal vendors or adopt a more humane approach of allowing them to operate in the face of high joblessness.

The MDC-T led council has given up on its fight to get rid of them.

Illegal vendors can now pay $1 daily to operate,council mayor Martin Moyo said.

"It is a balancing act. On one hand, we want to maintain order and cleanliness and at the same time we want to be seen to be humane and sympathetic to their plight," said Moyo.

Moyo, who was recently found to be corruption free said a suggestion has been brought to council that we levy the illegal vendors a $1 per day.

Moyo admitted council had lost the battle against illegal vending, adding the local authority has agreed to allow the street sellers to operate in the central business district, but on condition that they pay $1 daily rentals.

A number of vendors are choosing to shun operating from legal vending points, saying the ones designated by council had low business, a situation that has sparked running battles between the municipal police officers and the informal traders.

Recent council minutes reveal that the local authority had abandoned its hard-line approach against illegal vendors.

However, council has no adequate manpower to do the collections.

Council normally round up vendors with fierce running battles taking place.