Bulawayo City Council has started amending its vending by-laws to accommodate the increasing number of vendors and allow them to operate in the city centre.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU/STEPHEN CHADENGA
Bulawayo mayor Martin Moyo recently defied a government directive to drive away street vendors from the city centre, arguing that his council had a “pro-poor policy” and would find other ways of accommodating them without disturbing formal traders.
“The process of preparing amended vending by-laws is already underway and these are at an advanced stage,” council said.
“The previous by-laws are being amended to be in line with the prevailing socio-economic environs. The draft by-laws have been prepared and have been discussed in two separate sittings with relevant stakeholders for their inputs and have been referred to legal section for scrutiny and finalisation.
“Whilst the vendors have shown a desire and need to trade, it is necessary that their activities are regulated so that they co-exist with the rest of the business community engaged in legal business operations in the city.”
The council said it would in the meantime ensure proper infrastructure is constructed for the vendors.
“This is an ongoing exercise as the city continuously endeavours to provide vending marts/sheds to facilitate all-weather trading, toilets in all vending places have been provided or vending bays are allocated strategically to be within reach of toilet infrastructure,” council minutes read.
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“Potable water is also provided within reach of trading zones. Ideally all trading zones should be paved and clearly demarcated, and whilst this is the case in the CBD some trading places in the suburban zones though pegged are not paved as yet.”
Meanwhile, Gweru City Council has ordered all vendors to immediately vacate their illegal trading points and relocate to designated sites or face arrest and their goods confiscated.
The notice issued last Friday was the second this year after town clerk Daniel Matawu issued the first warning in June.
“All vendors should go to designated points allocated to them by the council,” part of the notice read.
“All those who are going to resist the move will be arrested and their goods shall be destroyed.”
Council further advised all vendors without designated points to approach the municipality offices at Gweru Theatre in order to be allocated bays.
