Government links vending crackdown to drug trade, promises new markets

HARARE - The Government has defended its nationwide Operation Chenesa clean-up campaign, arguing that the exercise is helping to combat drug trafficking, restore urban order and improve public health while paving the way for the establishment of modern vending facilities across the country.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the operation, which is being implemented in all 92 local authorities, is aimed at enforcing municipal by-laws, eliminating illegal structures and creating organised trading environments.

The defence comes amid growing concern from informal traders and residents affected by demolitions of vending stalls and trading structures in Harare and other urban centres.

According to Garwe, Operation Chenesa has so far affected 35,365 illegal business operations and activities across the country.

The exercise has resulted in the dismantling of 16,529 illegal structures, while 1,446 arrests have been made since the operation began.

Authorities have also collected fines amounting to US$118,553 and R1,000 during enforcement activities.

Garwe said the operation had exposed wider criminal activities beyond illegal vending.

"During the operation, the municipal police also seized hundreds of cartons of illegal drugs and substances, and vast quantities of prescription-only medicines; notably, several of these contained steroids, posing a grave threat to public health," he said.

The minister said Government's next focus would be the development and upgrading of legal trading facilities.

"The existing dilapidated markets will be renovated as a matter of urgency," said Garwe.

He added that all local authorities had been directed to establish designated vending zones equipped with essential facilities such as water and sanitation services.

Garwe dismissed reports suggesting that the operation was targeting residential homes.

"The Ministry explicitly clarifies that this programme represents a collective institutional mandate of the central government designed strictly to remove disorderliness, and not to demolish people's homes, contrary to false claims being circulated on social media platforms," he said.

The minister said the exercise was being implemented under provisions of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, the Urban Councils Act, the Rural District Councils Act and the Public Health Act.

He argued that removing illegal structures from roadsides, pavements and undesignated spaces would improve drainage systems, reduce sewer blockages and lower the risk of waterborne diseases.

Meanwhile, the operation has received support from some civic and community organisations that link informal trading hotspots to the spread of drugs and illicit substances.

Straight Black Pride Zimbabwe Partnership said investigations had revealed that some illegal vending spaces had allegedly become distribution points for drugs targeting young people.

The organisation claimed that certain vendors had been recruited by drug dealers to distribute illicit substances through their stalls.

However, the claims were not independently verified.

The organisation stressed that not all vendors were involved in criminal activities.

"Not every vendor is a drug dealer. Many vendors are honest mothers trying to feed their children. Many vendors are fathers who lost formal jobs and are surviving honestly. Those people deserve our protection, our sympathy, and alternative places to sell," the organisation said.

It urged authorities to distinguish between legitimate traders and individuals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

"Arrest the kingpins, not just the vendors. The small vendor selling drugs is the last link. The real criminals are the suppliers, the importers, the big men who recruit poor people. If we only destroy stalls, the network will rebuild tomorrow in another street," it said.

The organisation also called for the construction of proper markets with adequate facilities, rehabilitation programmes for drug users and greater community involvement in the fight against substance abuse.

Political analyst Abigale Mupambi supported aspects of the operation, arguing that illegal vending sites had increasingly become centres for drug distribution.

"While there could be an outcry over the government's Operation Chenesa, when looking at it with another eye, I really commend the government because there are drug dealers who have been using illegal vending sites to distribute their illicit drugs which are killing the nation and our youths," said Mupambi.

"We cannot have a nation where drug dealing is allowed to destroy our youth and the future of this country. The government is right in conducting this operation to save the lives of our young people."

Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum regional coordinator Max Mkandla echoed similar sentiments, alleging that some individuals involved in cross-border trading activities were using their operations to smuggle drugs into the country.

"We cannot have a country that has illegal drug dealing flourishing and we commend the government for its operation. We want to have all these drug cartels flushed out such that by Christmas we have people celebrate with sober minds," said Mkandla.

"These vendors go to Zambia claiming to be going to order their wares but bring drugs which destroy our youth. This is unacceptable. We must stop drug dealing in Zimbabwe now before the future of the country is totally destroyed."

Despite the support from some sectors, concerns remain over the impact of the operation on thousands of informal traders who depend on vending for survival.

Many stakeholders have called on Government and local authorities to urgently provide the promised alternative trading spaces before further enforcement measures are undertaken.

The success of Operation Chenesa is therefore expected to depend not only on the enforcement of regulations but also on the delivery of adequate, accessible and properly serviced vending facilities that protect livelihoods while promoting urban order.