There have been rumours that the City of Harare was working on a plan to shutdown Harare’s informal markets in a bid to minimise social contacts. Now the City has just confirmed those rumors and put a date on the planned shutdown plan.

Dear Residents
Harare City Council hereby informs all vendors trading at undesignated sites to immediately vacate such places as part of efforts to minimise human contact in the fight against the Corona Virus.

Municipal Police has been directed to move in and enforce the measure with the assistance of ZRP.
We advise that for those operating in designated areas such as Markets and Home Industries, council is consulting with Central Government for the closure of the same starting 28 March, 2020.
Should the consultation succeed, traders in all markets must vacate all markets and home industries by end of day on the 27th of March. These measures are being taken in light of the Covid-19 virus which is currently ravaging the whole world.
Under normal circumstances, the council would have done consultative meetings with members of the informal sector in line with our engagement model with all stakeholders.