Byo mayor under fire over vendors

News
BULAWAYO councillors have accused mayor Martin Moyo of fuelling illegal vending in the city after he allegedly made a “confusing remark” at a time the city is battling to control an upsurge in hawking it blames on political interference.
(File Photo): Martin Moyo
(File Photo): Martin Moyo

BULAWAYO councillors have accused mayor Martin Moyo of fuelling illegal vending in the city after he allegedly made a “confusing remark” at a time the city is battling to control an upsurge in hawking it blames on political interference.

BY NQOBILE BHEBHE

The councillors made the accusations during a meeting of the health, housing and education committee where they were debating a directive by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo to remove illegal vendors from the city centre.

 (Local Government minister) Ignatius Chombo
(Local Government minister) Ignatius Chombo

Some councillors suggested inviting Chombo, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Sithembiso Nyoni and vendor associations to a meeting to address the matter.

However, Cowdray Park councillor Collet Ndhlovu objected to the proposal to invite ministers, demanding that the mayor clarifies his statements concerning illegal vending.

“Councillor C Ndhlovu did not support the proposal to invite Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister,” read part of the committee’s minutes tabled at yesterday evening’s full council meeting.

“He suggested that instead His Worship the mayor should be invited to the next meeting of the committee.

“The mayor, in his recent address, had issued a confusing remark which was contributing to the challenges of enforcing vending by-laws.

“Council by-laws should be applied impartially.

“Full council was mandated to make policies and the mayor should consult before making some of the remarks, which may be interpreted as allowing vending without considering municipal by-laws.”

The report did not disclose the nature of the reports allegedly made by the mayor.

Chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou said vending in the city had become politicised. She said the mayor’s remarks had also made it difficult to control vendors.

“Vending by-law enforcement was becoming difficult,” the report quoted Zhou as saying.

“It appeared remarks by the mayor had caused problems, making it difficult to enforce by-laws. Council had engaged ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) in order to control vending activities and find the way forward.”

She also pointed a finger at the police, saying they appeared powerless in stopping the vending menace.

“Of late, ZRP had challenges in this regard. ZRP was mandated to dispose of vending wares confiscated during operations,” Zhou added.

“Currently, ZRP was not accepting such wares and efforts were being made to engage senior officials on the matter.

“Some municipal police members were injured by vendors during an operation. They were treated and discharged from hospital.”

According to the report, some councillors accused an unnamed political party of fuelling the chaos on the streets.

“Council indicated that a certain political party was addressing vendors asking them to join it,” the report added.

“The political party had promised to protect them against municipal police enforcing vending by-laws.

“Some vendors were now ganging against municipal police during operations.”

The disclosures of a discord in Bulawayo over vendors comes hard on the heels of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the army and the government for vendors to vacate undesignated selling points.

Vendors have vowed to resist the ultimatum that expires on Monday, setting the stage for a violent confrontation with security forces.