Mafume vows strict action against defiant street vendors

HARARE Mayor Jacob Mafume has warned municipal police and informal traders that inconsistent enforcement of city regulations will no longer be tolerated, stressing that vendors who defy rules will face strict repercussions. The mayor said the measures aim to balance residents' and traders' livelihoods with the need for order in the city.

Addressing journalists at Town House, Mafume urged vendors to self-regulate, saying those who deliberately flout city by-laws would "find us matching their defiance." He emphasized that the city is aware of the appropriate measures to enforce compliance but prefers voluntary adherence from traders. "We cannot be hard all the time. But when you then force us to be hard, at the end of the day, you as the resident and as the performer or practitioner of whatever you're practising, you're the one who cries," Mafume said.

The mayor revealed that the city plans to introduce designated vending areas to prevent informal traders from overwhelming streets. He stressed that while everyone has the right to earn a living, it must be done within clear regulations. Mafume also raised concerns about night-time vending, describing it as a recurring problem that leads to uncontrolled trading and unsafe conditions in the city.

Formal businesses, he noted, have been raising complaints about unfair competition, harassment, and restricted customer access due to unregulated street trading. "Businesses are complaining, they are moving out of town, their customers can't shop. People are selling the same things that are being sold by shops. They are being harassed, people cannot walk … We need to create a safe city for people to be able to move on the streets," Mafume said.

Highlighting Harare's growing reputation, the mayor pointed out that the city was recently ranked among the safest globally and pledged to maintain this status to boost tourism and enhance public safety. "We need to improve on that atmosphere, increase our tourism, increase the safety and reduce the worry so that more people can visit," he said.

Mafume's statement signals a more proactive approach by the city to enforce regulations while attempting to harmonize informal trading with urban planning and public safety priorities.