Suburban
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
RESIDENTS of Mandara have petitioned the City of Harare over vendors who are operating along Pringle Road and Eastern Road and causing a number of problems in the suburb.
The residents want the vendors removed as they are contributing to crime, road traffic accidents, the depreciation of the value of surrounding properties and not observing COVID-19 prevention measures.
In the petition handed over to an official from council’s Development Control Unit at a residents’ meeting held recently at Greendale Sports Club, residents of Mandara said while they appreciate that many people have resorted to vending to sustain their livelihoods, they feel it should be done within the confines of the law.
The residents said what started off as a few people selling their wares has turned into “hordes of vendors increasing by the day.”
“We the residents of Mandara seek the hand of the City of Harare to get these vendors removed completely.
“The same can be advised of the appropriate, designated vending areas in Mandara and the process they should follow to have access to the same and to enjoy them in terms of the regulations as expected of every noble citizen.
“We therefore request that you enforce that vendor designated sites be utilised for such purposes as self-help endangers other residents who should ideally peacefully co-exist with vendors operating within the parameters of the law,” reads the petition.
The residents, further state in their petition, that the intersection is a high accident zone as motorists tend to ignore the stop sign on Eastern Road.
“This predicament is worsened by the motorists who stop to buy wares from the said vendors increasing the risk and totally ignoring the imminent danger that lies ahead of them.
“Children running around between stalls and across the road raises danger to motorists and increases the risk of road traffic accidents, a fact that they are unaware of,” the residents said in the petition.
The residents suspect that criminals are getting inside information of their intended targets from the vendors.
They said there is an increase in the number of cars parking around the area with motorists buying alcohol sold by the vendors.
“More often than not, inside information is obtained from people loitering on the streets around the vendors and who often then study the movements of residents, gathering information of the habits of residents, the number of occupants in a home and the security system, posing a higher risk to residents.
“Petty thieves also have an advantage resulting from the stalls mounted by the vendors who are apparently oblivious of the threat these individuals pose to residents particularly those that will be walking or jogging in the early mornings or evenings,” reads the petition.
The residents said that allowing vending in the area will result in the spread of COVID-19 as the vendors and their customers disregard prevention measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Another concern raised by residents was the lack of ablution facilities at the vending sites, which residents said was a health time bomb.
“This unlawful vending site which has been self-created by its occupants has no ablution facilities at all despite the fact that hawkers spend the entire day in the area selling their wares.
“The question that boggles the mind is which facilities do they then use?” queried the petition.
The residents expressed concern over the increase in illegal dumps caused by vending, which is also a health threat. Residents said there were no provision for garbage and waste management and that was not only unsightly but a health hazard while the environment in that area was rapidly being degraded.
“We write to seek your assistance in the removal of a group of vendors operating from Pringle Road and Harare Drive also known as Eastern Road in Mandara Ward 9,” said the residents.
“It is our belief that the area does not constitute category a, b, c of vending sites in terms of the First Schedule of S.I. 159 of 2014 which classifies vending sites in terms of the Harare (Vendors) By-Laws, 2014.
“Whilst we appreciate that under the current economic climate, many have turned to vending to sustain their livelihoods, we are of the persuasion that this should be done within the parameters of the law in order to protect the greater community,” reads the residents’ petition.
They also complained that the vending taking place on these roads was causing their properties to depreciate in value as some of the informal traders have built temporary structures close to residents’ houses.
“The clutter and unorganised structures they install also affect the values of our financial investments and are an environmental hazard. In terms of 4 (1-2) of S.I. 159 of 2014, Harare (Vendors) by-laws, council ought to provide land for vending sites. We are aware that these vending sites do exist and therefore request that you enforce that these vending sites be utilised for such purposes as self-help endangers other residents who should ideally peacefully coexist with vendors operating within the parameters of the law.”
