Govt should ensure citizens are fully educated on by-laws

Zimbabwe Informal Sector's Organization (ZISO) calls upon local government authorities to ensure that citizens are fully educated on the by-laws that affect them.

The Statutory Instrument of 2014 (Harare City Council) on vending is and has never been known by the city's most vendors.  

While ignorance is no defence at law, ZISO believes that consultation and inclusively in the law process will make it easier for council to enforce the law and ensure that the people are aware of the laws that govern and affect them.

ZISO further calls for a paradigm shift in the promulgation of such laws in the other cities.

A consultative and inclusive making process is necessary to ensure the laws are informed by the realities of the people and that the people are aware and feel part and parcel of the laws in order to comply with them and lighten the work of the law enforcement agents.

ZISO also notes with concern that the Harare City Council has not fully followed the Statutory Instrument of 2014 on vending when destroying or auctioning goods and wares confiscated from vendors.  

This has led to some of the vendor's hard earned wares being corruptly or unlawfully donated by the first lady Dr. Grace Mugabe at her meet the people rallies.