News / Local
Vendors oppose the proposed $23 per day levy
22 Jun 2015 at 12:10hrs | Views
BUPTA, NAVUZ, ZICHIEA, ZIMCODD, ZISO and other vendors and informal trader groups today met with the officials from the Bulawayo City Council. The council was represented by the Mayor, his deputy and representative from the council stuff.
The Mayor briefed members that the government intends to proceed with its plans to remove vendors from the streets by the 26th of June 2015 as highlighted in the Minister's circular.
The vendors insisted that the processes of acquiring licenses and registration and the relocation to designated sites require more time than the two days left. The vendors cited the inadequacy of designated sites noting that 1975 are on the waiting list to be given licenses, not to mention those that are not even on the list.
The vendors also vehemently oppose the proposed $23.00 per day and stated that they were never consulted on the proposed figure. In turn, the informal sector's associations agreed to encourage their members to help maintain city cleanliness.
ZISO would like to applaud the Bulawayo City Council for creating this crucial dialogue platform and for pledging to support vendors and continue negotiations with the vendors associations.
Secondly to urge the Minister to abandon the eviction proposal altogether and embark on a consultative dialogue process to devise an amicable and sustainable solution to the issue of vendors.
Thirdly to allow local council authorities to exercise their constitutional autonomy to address the issue of the proliferation of vendors on a city by city basis, taking into account the local context of each town.
The Mayor briefed members that the government intends to proceed with its plans to remove vendors from the streets by the 26th of June 2015 as highlighted in the Minister's circular.
The vendors insisted that the processes of acquiring licenses and registration and the relocation to designated sites require more time than the two days left. The vendors cited the inadequacy of designated sites noting that 1975 are on the waiting list to be given licenses, not to mention those that are not even on the list.
ZISO would like to applaud the Bulawayo City Council for creating this crucial dialogue platform and for pledging to support vendors and continue negotiations with the vendors associations.
Secondly to urge the Minister to abandon the eviction proposal altogether and embark on a consultative dialogue process to devise an amicable and sustainable solution to the issue of vendors.
Thirdly to allow local council authorities to exercise their constitutional autonomy to address the issue of the proliferation of vendors on a city by city basis, taking into account the local context of each town.
Source - Zimbabwe Informal Sector Organization
