BCC moves to curb illegal vending

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has unveiled a series of measures aimed at improving operations at the Richmond Landfill Site and addressing the growing problem of illegal vending following a high-level meeting with Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube and members of the Joint Operations Command.

A council delegation led by deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu and town clerk Christopher Dube briefed the minister and security officials on plans to strengthen waste management through a partnership with the private sector.

Speaking during the meeting, Dube said the proposed public-private partnership was consistent with government policy.

"Partnering with the private sector in the management of the Richmond Landfill Site is in line with policy directions from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works," he said.

He added that the local authority was pursuing sustainable, long-term solutions to address operational challenges affecting the landfill site.

As part of the engagement, the delegation toured several illegal vending hotspots and inspected sites identified by the council for the proposed relocation of informal traders operating unlawfully in the city.

Dube said the relocation exercise was informed by research undertaken by the council to better understand the scale of informal trading.

"We have carried out research to establish the number of informal traders operating illegally and identified designated areas where they can conduct their business in an orderly manner," he said.

Minister Ncube expressed concern over the continued growth of illegal vending, saying the situation required urgent intervention.

"The prevailing situation cannot be allowed to continue," she said.

"There is need for co-ordinated action to restore order while ensuring that vendors operate from designated places."

Following the meeting, stakeholders agreed that the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, the City of Bulawayo and other relevant agencies would convene an emergency planning meeting to develop a framework for relocating informal traders.

Authorities said the planned relocation seeks to improve sanitation, ease congestion in the central business district and restore order while providing vendors with designated trading spaces in a more organised environment.