Most city councils in general and Harare City Council in particular have been struggling with illegal vending for a couple of years now. It seems that city council is now busy taking advantage of the current lockdown to destroy vendor stalls without having to face-off with vendors.

Yesterday reports filtered through social media of the city council seen in various areas including Mbare where they were destroying stalls. It now seems the city council was not acting of its own accord but was requested by the national government to do so. Ostensibly this is all being done “to clean up and renovate Small and Medium Enterprise and informal traders workspaces so that these areas will be more conducive to operate from when business reopens.”

SME AND INFORMAL TRADERS WORKSPACE
At the ninth Cabinet meeting, it was resolved that Local Authorities should take advantage of the national lockdown to clean up and renovate Small and Medium Enterprise and informal traders workspaces so that these areas will be more conducive to operate from when business reopens.
Please make every effort to comply with this resolution. To this end, workers in this area would be classified as ‘essential’ in terms of Circular Minute 2 of 2020 and they should be provided with the necessary protective clothing and equipment whilst they undertake their duties.
Z.R. Churu Secretary for Local Government and Public Works
Copied: The Honourable Minister of Local Government and Public Works All Acting Provincial Development Co-ordinators