Vendors divided over Govt directive

Vendor associations in Bulawayo and Harare are divided over a Government directive to vacant Central Business Districts by next Monday to designated sites.

In Bulawayo, the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) first national vice-president, Edward Manning, said they learnt of the directive with great shock.

"ZCIEA Bulawayo territory has learnt with shock of the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Minister of Local Government, Public works and National Housing, Honourable Ignatius Chombo which says that vendors and informal traders across the country should stop trading on the streets. Vending is part of informal trade in Bulawayo and it's not something that can be wished away just like that. The local government should find ways of regularising the industry."

"As Zimbabweans, we all need to commit ourselves to fulfilling the necessary conditions required to make the country's economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, work so that our economy is revived then we can have jobs," said Manning.

In Harare, some association s said they have begun complying with the directive.

Harare Informal Traders' Council president Onisimo Gore welcomed the Government's directive, saying the CBD in the capital had become chaotic.

"We support the Government move wholeheartedly. We are saying all vendors should move to designated places to create order and cleanliness in the CBD," he said.

"Who can resist this decision to create order? The people resisting the order are empty vessels."

In Gweru, reports indicate that there was a scramble for vending stalls and space outside the CBD as illegal vendors tried to beat the one week ultimatum issued by government to leave the streets.