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ZANU PF members reportedly assaulted a Bulawayo-based journalist and damaged her phone on Monday.
<a href="https://cite.org.zw/byo-journalist-assaulted-by-zanu-pf-members/">CITE</a> reported that the journalist, Annahstacia Ndlovu, who writes for Voice of America (VOA), was covering clashes at the Fifth Avenue market where ZANU PF members were chasing away vendors who are not card-carrying members from their vending bays.
She said she and other freelance journalists were at the Bulawayo Media Centre when they received an alert from informal traders from the market about the skirmishes. She said:
<blockquote>
After receiving word on the violence, I with other journalists namely, Tuso Pamenus, Lungelo Ndlovu and Simbarashe Muparangada rushed to the market to see and capture what was happening there.
</blockquote>
Ndlovu said while she was interviewing the affected vendors, the ZANU PF members returned and accosted her demanding that she stops recording. She said:
<blockquote>
Luckily enough, I captured them in the video as they approached us. Those ZANU PF men told me not to take the video and asked me who I was.
I introduced myself as a journalist but they ordered me to delete the video I had taken.
They pushed me to their vehicle while assaulting me as their other accomplices ran away.
I asked them why they were beating me but they didn’t answer as they took away my mobile phone.
</blockquote>
She said she recognised the individuals who attacked her and that she had reported the incident to the police.
Ndlovu was in Gweru the previous day, on Sunday, covering the CCC rally at Mkoba Stadium and still had footage of the event on her phone.
She said after her assailants went through the footage, they accused her of being “Chamisa’s person” and deleted some videos.
The journalist said her attackers did not destroy the phone, but her other phone, an iPhone fell to the ground and was damaged.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZANU PF Members Assault Journalist

The Harare City Council is conducting a joint enforcement operation aimed at clearing all illegal activities in the Central Business District (CBD) and all residential areas.
Writing for the City of Harare, Bornwise Mtonzi said the Harare Municipal Police, Development Control Unit, and Amenities, are targeting all illegal vendors, buildings, abandoned vehicles parked along roadsides, and street car washing among others.
The joint operation is in line with a special council resolution made on the 7th of February 2023 by the Environmental Management Committee targetting the City’s bus termini and CBD.
All goods confiscated during the operation shall be taken to the Harare Municipal Police.
Impounded vehicles will be sent to the central stores compound with penalty tickets being issued to offenders.
Acting Amenities head Lisben Chipfunde was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
This is a special operation that we were not conducting about anti-littering which is so rampant throughout the city.
The Environmental Management Committee resolved that we should start to enforce the statutory Instrument 30 of 2016 which is an anti-litter by-law.
The By-Law states that if any individual is caught throwing litter everywhere is required to pay a fine.
</blockquote>
He added that industries or companies also caught on the wrong side of the law shall all pay fines.
Fines for domestic waste from a standard-size receptacle/cart is US$36, while for domestic waste from a vehicle, one is supposed to pay US$113.
The fine for industrial all commercial waste dumping is US$385 or paid on the prevailing bank rate.
Chipfunde said termini targeted are Speke Avenue (Copa Cabana), Market Square, Charge Office and Simon Vengesai Muzenda (Fourth Street).
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare City Council Plans To Clamp Down On Illegal Activities

There was chaos at the Beitbridge Border Post on Monday as hundreds of Zimbabwean cross-border traders desperately tried to leave South Africa before a national shutdown led by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009110/hundreds-stranded-at-beitbridge">NewsDay</a>.
The EFF led by Julius Malema called for a national shutdown on 20 March to force South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down, accusing him of corruption.
The protesters were also demanding the restoration of electricity and an end to load shedding.
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy secretary-general Wisbon Malaya told NewsDay that hundreds of Zimbabwean cross-border traders had their goods confiscated by South African police. Said Malaya:
<blockquote>
Actually, I am on my way from South Africa. On Friday, I witnessed the Gauteng Police arresting and confiscating the goods of street traders that are not South Africans.
On Sunday, several cross-border traders tried to come back home in a rush before the protests causing chaos at the border.
Thousands of goods such as blankets, carpets, cooking oil, yogurt, and other dairy and poultry products were confiscated.
I witnessed poor women and cross-border traders looking hopeless at the border.
One old lady fainted at the border after a load of her onions was confiscated.
There is a need to educate cross-border traders about what is allowed and not allowed at the border post, as well as how to register to trade commercially in order to operate safely.
</blockquote>
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) executive director Samuel Wadzai said the situation in South Africa is worrisome. He said:
<blockquote>
The prevailing situation is worrying. We have seen the deployment of the military in SA, and this will severely affect cross-border traders’ ability to trade in the neighbouring country.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

EFF Shutdown: Zimbabwean Traders Lose Goods At Beitbridge Border Post

Vendors and hawkers have been warned against taking children to vending sites, whether designated or undesignated, as this is against the law.
Susan Ngani, who is the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Harare provincial social welfare officer, told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/illegal-vending-in-town-with-kids-an-offence-day-care-centre-set-to-be-established">The Sunday Mail</a> that Child Justice Bill will empower authorities take the parents to court for prosecution. She said:
<blockquote>
These children are being abused, so, under the Child Justice Bill, we will be able to arrest and take these parents to court for prosecution.
</blockquote>
Ngani said the Children’s Act has been in existence for some time although it was not being enforced.
She said the government was working on a Child Justice Bill for the protection of children’s rights. Part of Chapter 5:06 of the Children’s Act reads:
<blockquote>
Any parent or guardian of a child or young person who allows that child or young person or any person who causes any child or young person — (a) to beg; or (b) to accompany him or any other person while he begs; or (c) to induce or to endeavour to induce the giving of alms; or (d) to perform or be exhibited in any way for public entertainment in a manner likely to be detrimental to the child’s or young person’s health, morals, mind or body; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment.
</blockquote>
Ngani said a day-care centre is set to be established in Harare’s central business district (CBD) for vendors and parents working in town to leave their children under the care of skilled social workers during the day. She said:
<blockquote>
A building has already been identified for that. Globally, daycare centres have become popular. This initiative was long overdue.
We are also engaging traditional leaders to ensure all children in villages go to school to break the cycle of poverty in all areas.
</blockquote>
Harare City Council acting spokesperson Innocent Ruwende said all offending vendors are ferried in council trucks regardless of their parental status.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Vending In Town With Kids A Criminal Offence - Govt

Zimbabwean vendors in Victoria Falls have urged the local authority to ensure that hawkers from Zambia respect the city’s by-laws.
A report by the <a href="https://globalpressjournal.com/africa/zimbabwe/return-zambian-vendors-rattles-merchants-victoria-falls/">Global Press Journal</a> indicates that Zambian vendors have taken advantage of the reopening of the Zimbabwe-Zambia border to travel to Victoria Falls to sell fruits and vegetables.
The border was closed in 2020 as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Zambian vendors, popularly known as omzanga, a Nyanja term meaning “friend,” cross the Victoria Falls Bridge en route to Zimbabwe every morning to sell vegetables.
A local vendor, Sikhulile Ngwenya who has been in the business for 10 years, said she feels a constant threat and uncertainty looming over her livelihood.
The Zambian vendors reportedly sell their fruits and vegetables and low prices because they source their products from farms that are close to the border with Zimbabwe.
Their Zimbabwean counterparts are however, forced to sell at higher prices as they source their produce from places like Lupane, 264 kilometers (164 miles) away; Bulawayo, 435 kilometers (270 miles) away; and sometimes as far as Harare, 874 kilometers (543 miles) away.
Local vendors also must operate from their designated spots in the markets, and pay rentals to the Victoria Falls City Council, while the Zambian vendors can move door to door.
Ngwenya said she pays US$16 a month to the council. She said during the first lockdown, she made US$15 to US$25 a day, but now she makes US$10 to US$15 a day. Ngwenya said:
<blockquote>
Because vendors sell door to door, our customers no longer visit the market.
This is now a threat to our livelihoods as we no longer sell much because residents would rather wait for the Zambian vendors sitting in their homes.
</blockquote>
Grace Shoko, who is the vice chairperson of the Zambezi Informal Cross Border Traders Association (ZICBTA) accused Zambian vendors of “stealing” their customers.
ZICBTA was founded in late 2021 in Victoria Falls to resolve issues between local and Zambian traders.
Naomi, a Zambian vendor, said she prefers vending in Zimbabwe because she makes more money than when selling in Zambia because in Zimbabwe she sells in United State dollars.
She said when she converts her USD to Zambian kwacha back in her country, she gets a substantial amount.
Mercy Mushare, a member of the Mkhosana vendors association, said they have engaged the local authority to put in place bylaws that protect local vendors. She said:
<blockquote>
We are not saying Zambians should not come and sell, but they should abide by the same bylaws which we abide by. They should not be at an advantage over locals.
</blockquote>
Victoria Falls residents, however, fear that strict action against Zambian vendors might eventually hurt the common Zimbabwean as local vendors will most likely increase prices to pandemic levels.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Vendors In Victoria Falls Call For Strict Action Against Zambians

Nine (9) Bulawayo City Council (BCC) municipal police officers who allegedly fired at vendors with rubber bullets last month have been granted bail.
The <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/bcc-municipal-police-granted-bail/">Chronicle</a> reported that Ignatius Nyathi (51), Herbert Khumalo (55), Ntokozo Moyo (46), Lungton Moyo (42), Cent Moyo (49) Bekisipho Ncube (50) Lawrence Mathwasa (60 Bekezela Ncube 56, Mthabisi Moyo (30) appeared in court each facing two counts of attempted murder.
They were granted ZWL$50 000 bail each by Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza, who remanded them to 14 March.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused were ordered to report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station (homicide section).
Allegations were that on 23 February 2023, at around 7 AM, the accused persons were part of a team of municipal police who were on duty dispersing illegal vendors in Bulawayo Central Business District.
The court heard that the team was dispersing illegal vendors from an undesignated area along 5th Avenue between Lobengula Street and Jason Moyo Street.
They encountered a group of people chanting protest songs against BCC security details. Prosecutor Concilia Ncube said:
<blockquote>
The accused persons who were armed with shotguns fired 41 shots indiscriminately towards the protesting group and as a result, Concilia Ndlovu was shot in the left hand and sustained an injury and there is a lodged foreign object which is yet to be extracted.
</blockquote>
It is alleged that Ndlovu was not part of the group and was carrying out her normal business.
The second complainant Prosper Munemo was shot in the groin and sustained injuries.
The accused were released after their lawyers Messrs Herbert Chimbete and Maqhawe Mpofu of Coghlan and Welsh Legal Practitioners successfully applied for bail.
The State had opposed bail arguing that there was no guarantee that if released, the accused persons would not abscond given the gravity of the offence.
More <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Municipal Cops Who Fired At Vendors Granted Bail

Vendors in Bulawayo have urged insurance companies to come up with insurance schemes that also cater for SMEs.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) executive director Michael Ndiweni told <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/article/200007290/vendors-appeal-for-insurance-scheme">Southern Eye</a> that their members often lose everything in the event of a fire outbreak because their goods are not insured. Said Ndiweni:
<blockquote>
Insurance is very important for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the event of accidents like what happened in Espamprekini in Mpopoma where people lost everything (to a fire outbreak) because their goods were not insured.
We are doing advocacy for SMEs to be granted insurance packages. We have also raised this issue to the government during budget consultations for 2023.
We also engaged the government on policy because it should come from government policy for it to be responsive to the traders.
</blockquote>
Ndiweni said property owners should be compelled to insure their goods so that their tenants do the same.

Vendors Appeal For Insurance Packages For SMEs

The Bulawayo City Council on Wednesday called off its planned operation to clamp down on all illegal activities in the city amid security fears raised by various stakeholders.
Last week, the city’s town clerk, Christopher Dube gave those involved in illegal activities in the city up to Tuesday this week to cease their activities or be forcibly removed in the operation that was scheduled to commence this Wednesday.
But speaking during a consultative meeting with the business community on Wednesday, BCC Chamber Secretary, Sikhangele Zhou, said the operation was shelved pending the holding of a security sector meeting. She said:
<blockquote>
There was an expectation maybe from everyone in the city that today they would be a lot of enforcement around the city, however, there was a lot of polarisation regarding the enforcement and there were people who were preparing this and that which is why there had to be a security sector meeting this morning.
There was a general sentiment that while we plan to bring sanity, we might end up having skirmishes like looting and all sorts of activities of that nature.
As a city, we were ready to start the enforcement today but when we contacted our counterparts, the ZRP, they felt it was wise to wait for today’s meeting so the whole security sector will map a proper way forward and we enforce without putting anything in danger.
</blockquote>
Zhou said the council police have no arresting powers so they have to work with the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Illegal activities targeted by the operation include vending on undesignated sites on the streets, pavements and roadways, washing of cars, repairing of vehicles, illegal pickup points by private vehicles, commuter omnibuses and buses, delivery of farm produce and other products onto the streets, push carts, heavy commercial vehicles into the city centre which have all resulted in serious congestion, chaos, littering as well as an increase in pickpocketing. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/council-blitz-shelved-amid-security-concerns/">The Sunday News</a>

Bulawayo City Council Blitz Shelved Amid Fears Of Skirmishes, Looting

The City of Bulawayo has announced its intentions to clear the streets of all informal traders, those washing cars, plying illegal pick-up and drop-off points, and push carts next week on Wednesday.
In a notice, the Town Clerk Christopher Dube gave the illegal operators until Tuesday next week to stop their activities. He said:
<blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo would like to advise all stakeholders that it will be conducting an exercise to rid the City of all unauthorized activities with effect from Wednesday, 11 January 2023.
All persons conducting unauthorized informal trading on undesignated sites in the City of Bulawayo (on the streets, pavements, roadways), washing of cars, repairing of vehicles, illegal pickup points by private vehicles, commuter omnibuses and buses, delivery of farm produce and other products onto the streets, push carts, heavy commercial vehicles into the Central Business District, illegal throwing and dumping of garbage or litter… are given up to Tuesday, 10 January 2023 to cease their illegal activities.
With effect from Wednesday, 11. January 2023, the City of Bulawayo will be conducting an exercise to eliminate ALL illegal activities so as to restore order and cleanliness.
</blockquote>
Dube said informal traders should register with the city council for them to get licences to operate from designated sites. He said:
<blockquote>
All those who are interested in trading in the authorised sites are advised to visit the City of Bulawayo Vending Offices at the former Dugmore Clinic Offices along Basch Street for registration and licensing.
The City encourages trading at designated sites in terms of Municipal by-laws.
This fosters peace, cleanliness and control of all informal trading activities through the associations which have Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the City.
</blockquote>

Bulawayo City Council Vows To Eliminate Illegal Vending Next Week

CCC Senator for Bulawayo Tsepiso Mpofu has accused suspected ZANU PF activists under the banner Vendors for Economic Development (Vendors4ED) of forcing vendors to pay rentals after allocating them illegal space along 5th Avenue.
In a WhatsApp exchange with one of the space barons, Mpofu accused the ZANU PF-linked activists of stealing from poor vendors and bringing people from outside Bulawayo to trade in the city. She said audio circulating on social media:
<blockquote>
These space barons are bringing people from Masvingo and registering them as voters in Bulawayo as Zanu PF has been struggling to get enough votes in Bulawayo since 2000.
</blockquote>
In response, the space baron said they will allocate space to vendors whether Bulawayo City Council likes it or not. He said:
<blockquote>
We are vendors for Economic Development (ED). If we allocate people stands here, we do not choose whether one is ZANU PF or not.
We do not seek permission, but we simply tell you that we are doing this and that, whether you say you do not want it, we do not care at all.
</blockquote>
Mpofu on Tuesday told Southern Eye she was now being threatened by Vendors4ED who are demanding that she should show them the person who is collecting money from the vendors.
She added that ZANU PF should not politicise vending as vendors are trying to make ends meet.
ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Archibold Chiponda refuted the allegations made by Mpofu. He said:
<blockquote>
Can she provide us with names and details of the people doing this or some evidence? Politics is a numbers game.
If we were to bring people from Masvingo to come and vote in Bulawayo, how do you think ZANU PF as a party in Masvingo will feel?
Of course, we will be reducing their votes in Masvingo, and what senator Mpofu is saying does not make sense.
</blockquote>
Deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube backed Mpofu’s claims, saying the space barons are sabotaging the City of Bulawayo. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
That is what has been happening along 5th Avenue. That is what those hooligans are doing, claiming that they were sent to do so. But soon council will remove them regardless of political affiliation.
They must understand that Bulawayo voters are smart voters, and they are worried whenever they see people sabotaging the council’s vision to develop a smart city.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/article/200005290/zanu-pf-space-barons-fleecing-vendors-senator">Southern Eye</a>

Bulawayo Senator Accuses ZANU PF Space Barons Of Fleecing Vendors

The Harare City Council has invited all vendors in and around the Central Business District (CBD) to a meeting at the Town House on Thursday.
Council’s Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) committee chairperson, Councillor Denford Ngadziore (Ward 16) said the meeting will try to find long-term solutions to problems caused by illegal vending in the city.
Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and officials from the Harare Metropolitan Provincial office will also attend the meeting. Said Ngadziore:
<blockquote>
I am inviting all vendors to a meeting at Town House to discuss ways of solving problems vendors are facing as a way of finding long-term solutions.
The City is ours together and the Mayor, His Worship Jacob Mafume, will attend the meeting and engage with every one of us. So let us all come for this engagement.
</blockquote>
Harare, like other urban areas across the country, is struggling to deal with vendors who sell their wares in undesignated areas thereby obstructing the smooth flow of vehicular and human traffic.

Harare City Council To Hold Meeting With Vendors

Bulawayo City Council council have blocked a move to reverse a council resolution barring informal traders from operating along Fifth Avenue.
The councillors say the road should be opened for human and vehicular traffic.
The local authority closed the road to vendors at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, two years later, the council has failed to remove the informal traders operating along Fifth Avenue.
The local authority identified sites for vendors to operate from. The spots are near the Highlanders Football Club clubhouse and another at the corner of Lobengula Street and First Avenue. But the vendors say the sites are far away from their targeted clients.
According to the latest council report that was tabled before a full council meeting last Wednesday, council management had proposed the official reopening of the street to accommodate informal traders. Reads the report:
<blockquote>
With the coming of COVID-19, council on 3 June 2020 resolved that 5th Avenue (stretching from Robert Mugabe to Lobengula Street) be closed off permanently to any form of trading and henceforth the closed street be re-opened as a public road that accommodates two-way traffic as per the Roads Act provisions.
Despite the fact that this whole process was consultative, disgruntled informal traders took the matter to court.
The court dismissed their application and upheld the Council’s resolution of opening the road for vehicular traffic.
There had been an application from informal traders to close off 5th Avenue for informal trading activities, in light of the discussions around 5th Avenue, four options exist.
The options are informed by the need to strike a balance amongst a multifarious use, that is parking, informal trading and vehicular traffic and the property owners.
</blockquote>
The first option tabled would be to maintain the existing bays prior to COVID-19 and leave the planning area with 880 informal trading bays.
The second is to have the planning area with 952 informal trading bays occupying parking bays on both ends of the planning area.
The third option suggested is that the area will have two riding lanes and parking bays to the north but with 557 informal trading bays.
The fourth and final option is to maintain the status quo of opening up 5th Avenue to vehicular traffic without any consideration of informal trading activities.
Management was reportedly pushing for the adoption of option three, saying it leaves the area with fewer vending bays and would accommodate all the users including property owners.
However, councillors dismissed the move by management. Acting Mayor, Councillor Mlandu Ncube said what was dangerous with the move was that it would appear as if the local authority was regularising illegality. He said:
<blockquote>
We cannot create a problem by trying to solve another problem, in this city we are clear that 5th Avenue is a road, people must drive along that street.
When that street was closed there were people operating there, whom we consulted properly and gave them bays somewhere else, some, unfortunately, did not get them because of the limited space and went home.
Suddenly, despite this resolution, we woke up to people now operating there and two years after we are failing to remove these illegal elements, now we want to regularise those illegal elements, which is dangerous.
We will create a problem, with our people who were originally trading there, we can only start talking about that area when all offenders have left.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/councillors-block-reopening-of-fifth-avenue-market/">The Sunday News</a>

Councillors Block Reopening Of Fifth Avenue Market In Bulawayo

The City of Bulawayo has approached the Joint Operation Command (JOC) for assistance to remove ZANU PF activists who have illegally converted one of the city’s streets into a vegetable market.
JOC is a security arm comprising officers drawn from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS).
The City of Bulawayo has accused ZANU PF youths and their leaders of taking over 5th Street in the central business district and parcelling it into vending bays for vendors.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the city’s “Big Spring Cleaning Week” launch Monday, Bulawayo Mayor, Solomon Mguni, said:
<blockquote>
They (vendors) were settled here by politicians from the ruling party (ZANU PF) and we have tried to engage both the party and state security apparatus to try and remove them from this road.
… We have held various meetings with JOC and the vendors’ leaders so as to find an amicable solution.
The engagements are continuing and ultimately it is the JOC which should ensure that these people are removed.
</blockquote>
The ZANU PF-linked “vending space barons” are prejudicing the local authority of millions of potential revenue by taking bribes from the displaced informal traders. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/council-ropes-in-army-to-swoop-on-defiant-zanu-pf-aligned-street-vendors/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Bulawayo Council Ropes In Army To Remove Defiant ZANU PF-aligned Vendors

Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni on Monday accused the ruling ZANU PF of promoting illegal vending in the city, which was leading to rampant littering.
Mguni spoke as the city launched a campaign dubbed ‘Spring Cleaning Week’ which will see the local authority clear rubbish which has piled up at seven locations in the city centre.
He said ZANU PF encouraged the vendors who had been chased out of the CBD to return and occupy 5th Avenue where they are untouchable, even by the police. He is cited by <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/09/bulawayo-mayor-accuses-zanu-pf-of-fuelling-illegal-vending-in-the-city/">ZimLive.com</a> as saying:
<blockquote>
People who were settled here (5th Avenue) were settled by politicians from the ruling party and we have tried to engage the party and the security apparatus of the state to try and remove them.
This is a public road, it was closed to vending and we decentralised markets but people think money is the city centre. 5th Avenue remains a public road, it was gazetted as a public road and it remains as such. We have to enforce the law, but it requires collective effort of all government agencies including the Environmental Management Agency, health authorities, the security apparatus of the state and our own security officers to ensure that we reopen the road to the public. It’s a question of enforcement which has gone beyond the local authority alone.
</blockquote>
During the peak of COVID-19, the central government ordered Bulawayo to clear vendors from the CBD to high-density suburbs and 5th Avenue was reopened to the motoring public.
Mguni however says many of the vendors have returned and are getting protection from Zanu PF.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Bulawayo Mayor Mguni Accuses ZANU PF Of Promoting Illegal Vending

ZANU PF-aligned vendors who recently invaded Fifth Avenue in Bulawayo and allocated trading bays amongst themselves are accusing the City of Bulawayo of corruption.
The ZANU PF Nehanda district chairperson Josiah Mutangi popularly known as “uMoses wabantu” confirmed that they had taken over Fifth Avenue. He said:
<blockquote>
We had appealed for vending bays from the council and followed proper procedures for acquiring vending bays, but the council went on to parcel bays to their people.
Why can’t the council open public toilets considering that we have disabled people in our midst who cannot afford to pay for toilets?
We do not want to be on Fifth Avenue forever, but the council should look for an alternative for us.
</blockquote>
Mutangi said what they did was not illegal and he accused people allegedly associated with the council of selling dangerous drugs around the area.
He also said there were more than 7 000 vendors in the CBD and council officials had a team of agents collecting rentals on their behalf on a daily basis. Said Mutangi:
<blockquote>
There are council agents collecting the “Hlalani kuhle” money between 12 and 1 pm and between 3 and 4 pm every day making it a total of US$2 a day. When one fails to pay, there is a fine of US$11,50.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo deputy Mayor Mlandu Ncube denied Mutangi’s claims that council agents were collecting money from vendors. He said:
<blockquote>
We have tried to remove illegal vendors from Fifth Avenue, which is not a vending area. We are working on a strategy to deal with them.
There are no council agents collecting money from vendors. All payments are done at the Revenue Hall.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/08/zanu-pf-linked-vendors-defy-bcc/">NewsDay</a>

ZANU PF Linked Vendors Defy Bulawayo City Council

Makoni Central MP David Tekeshe (MDC Alliance) has urged the government to pass a law that legalises vending and bring to an end recurrent running battles between the police and the informal traders.
Tekeshe raised a point of national interest in the National Assembly on Tuesday saying vending should be legalised. He said:
<blockquote>
Vending is treated like a crime. There are no jobs in the country, yet we harass and arrest these people.
(The Department of) Social Welfare does not do anything to cater for the needy. Government must come up with a law to protect vendors.
</blockquote>
Tekeshe accused ZANU PF of pretending to care for vendors during election time.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi said the issue would be taken up with the relevant ministry for consideration.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), 88% of people in the country are in the informal sector.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/07/civil-servants-strike-fails-to-take-off/">NewsDay</a>

MDC Alliance MP Urges Govt To Legalise Vending

Bee farmers and honey producers say it is unsafe to buy honey from street vendors as the product could be fake and pose health risks.
The founder of Bee’s Honey Company, Welcome Bhila said people should desist from buying the cheap honey sold on the streets as most of it is fake and should rather buy from reputable sources. He said:
<blockquote>
Some people will have been prescribed pure honey and end up using syrup which has high sugar content thereby putting their lives at risk.
There are a few home tests that one can do to check if their honey is fake or pure but they are not 100 per cent effective.
If you pour honey into an open white plate, add some water and stir, it should give you the design of a honeycomb.
</blockquote>
One Ntombizodwa Ndlovu who sells honey along 5th Avenue in Bulawayo admitted that some street vendors were selling fake honey. She said:
<blockquote>
Yes, some people are selling honey mixed with syrup claiming it’s pure honey.
This is unfair because some of our customers buy the honey for health reasons.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/fake-honey-poses-health-risks/">Chronicle</a></h4>

"Honey Sold On The Street Poses Health Risks"

Harare City Council (HCC) has launched an operation code-named “Operation Clean up Harare” targeting unregistered vendors operating in Greater Harare.
In a letter to the Director of Housing and Community Services dated 11 April 2022, Acting Town Clerk Phakamile Moyo said the operation will be conducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in conjunction with the local authority. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
All Council Officials in each District shall co-operate with District Officer(s) and enforce provisions of relevant laws, e.g. Harare vendors by-laws of 2014… SI 109 of 1979, etc.
All activities shall be coordinated by the District Officer including daily statistical returns which shall be compiled and consolidated for this office every Monday 1000hrs.
The Transport Manager is advised by copy of this letter to provide adequate fuel for Operation Clean Up Harare.
</blockquote>
ZANU PF activist, Sybeth Musengezi, has criticised HCC for the operation, saying authorities’ taking citizens for granted is going to extremes. <a href="https://twitter.com/MusengeziSybeth/status/1513866001095565312?s=20&amp;t=B319JPi8CFcAqDA0T2K4ow">He tweeted:</a>
<blockquote>
You destroyed the economy and forced us into hustling. Now you’re chasing vendors like dogs.
If we don’t do vending, mshika shika, money changing etc how do u expect us to survive?
Makunyanya kujairira povo manje, itai muchitsika ma brakes.
</blockquote>
Musengezi suggested that the rise in armed robbery cases is linked to the banning of ordinary activities that are a source of income for members of the public.
<h4>More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Council Embarks On "Operation Clean Up Harare"

Vendors in Hwange have petitioned the Hwange Rural District Council (HRDC) to reverse a recent unilateral hike in vending license fees.
The vendors, who are members of the Hwange Vendors and Traders Association (HVTA), say the local authority effected a 217 per cent hike in vending licence fees without consulting them.
This means that vendors now pay US$114 from the US$36 charged last year. HVTA wrote to the local authority on 24 February pleading for the adjustment to be reconsidered.
Speaking during an interview with CITE, HVTA spokesperson, Elton Mguni, said that the HRDC never consults them before announcing new fees. He said:
<blockquote>
As an association standing for vendors, we saw it fit to engage other stakeholders and together with Greater Whange Residents Trust we jointly authored a letter of objection to the council registering our concern over the hike in vending licenses.
We appealed to HRDC to review downwards or revert to the US$36 even though we still feel it’s too high.
The problem is that as stakeholders we are not engaged or invited to budget meetings.
It’s like they impose these increases on us, even knowledge of the criteria used to arrive or justify the rates is unknown.
</blockquote>
Mguni said the vendors were still to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic characterised by lockdowns which restricted their activities.
Greater Whange Residents Trust described the new fees as “illogical” arguing that the HRDC had no mandate to collect revenue in areas under the Hwange Local Board’s jurisdiction. Said Chima:
<blockquote>
GWRT is vehemently opposed to the hiking of the vending licence fee from USD36 to USD114.
Vendors were hard hit by Covid 19 lockdown restrictions and the hiking of fees defies logic by the rural council.
We are also going to challenge the legality of HRDC to collect revenue in wards that fall under Hwange Local Board.
Most vendors fall under Hwange Local Board jurisdiction but surprisingly they are forced to pay license fees to RDC.
Vendors have never been consulted by RDC and the only time RDC remembers them is when they will be with law enforcement officers demanding license fees.
</blockquote>
When contacted for a comment by CITE, HRDC chief executive officer, Phindile Ncube, said he was yet to see the letter.
<h4>More: <a href="https://cite.org.zw/outrage-of-steep-hike-in-vending-licence-fees/">CITE</a></h4>

Hwange Vendors Dismayed Over Steep Hike In Vending Fees

Vendors and traders under various banners have expressed anger over the manner in which they are being treated by authorities.
The various informal traders affiliated to the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) addressed the media in Bulawayo last week. President of ZICHEA, Lorraine Sibanda said:
<blockquote>Do not criminalize our work, after all, we feel let down by ruling party after July 30 elections, now we want a clear policy on informal work.
We thought that for a moment everything is going to be well for us but now we are the most to suffer from the US dollar ban.</blockquote>
Sibanda also bemoaned the government’s failure to engage vendors before the abolition of the multi-currency regime. She said:
<blockquote>We are in a state of confusion about the government’s move to ditch multi-currency use, I will not claim to know about how we, as informal economy traders going to move from here but my thinking is whenever there is change, there is a need for engagement and dialogue before a bombshell dropping on citizens.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.263chat.com/we-voted-for-youyou-tricked-us-vendors-tells-government/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">263Chat</a></h4>

ZANU PF Let Us Down After July 30 Elections - Vendors Complain

A woman was slapped by a yet to be identified soldier for taking pictures of soldiers harassing vendors. This follows reports that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2017/12/04/operation-restore-legacy-now-targetting-vendors/">(ZDF) will embark on a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Harare Municipal Police to evict vendors</a> and illegal foreign currency dealers from the Harare CBD.
Watch the video below courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/938737777918791680">Mduduzi Mathuthu</a>:
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en">
Her crime was apparently taking pictures of soldiers harassing vendors. I guess we can now declare the selfie season with junta agents over <a href="https://t.co/Hii6ze8YH1">pic.twitter.com/Hii6ze8YH1</a>
— Mduduzi Mathuthu (@Mathuthu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/938737777918791680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

VIDEO: Woman slapped for taking pictures of soldiers harassing vendors

A woman was slapped by a yet to be identified soldier for taking pictures of soldiers harassing vendors. This follows reports that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/operation-restore-legacy-now-targetting-vendors/">(ZDF) will embark on a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Harare Municipal Police to evict vendors</a> and illegal foreign currency dealers from the Harare CBD.
Watch the video below courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/938737777918791680">Mduduzi Mathuthu</a>:
<blockquote data-lang="en">
Her crime was apparently taking pictures of soldiers harassing vendors. I guess we can now declare the selfie season with junta agents over <a href="https://t.co/Hii6ze8YH1">pic.twitter.com/Hii6ze8YH1</a>
— Mduduzi Mathuthu (@Mathuthu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/938737777918791680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2017</a></blockquote>

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