Harare municipal police officers are allegedly stealing wares and demanding bribes from illegal vendors operating from the Capital’s pavements.
Some of the vendors who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com over the weekend expressed frustration and despair over the officers’ behaviour. A woman who identified herself as Mercy Nyakudya said:
They are stealing from us, we cannot even make profits. They come 10 times a day.
I find it better if they arrest us and take us to the police station. But they just catch us, take our stuff and threaten not to return it if we do not give them bribes.
I find myself left with no option but to pay the bribe.
The City Fathers recently said that they intend to intensify raids on illegal street traders in 2020 in a bid to ensure smooth flow of traffic as well as keeping the streets clean.
Illegal food vendors flood the streets usually at dusk, blocking pavements and leaving litter scattered everywhere.