Suburban
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
Vendors operating at the corner of Eastern and Pringle Roads in Mandara and Harare Drive and Arcturus roads recently took part in the monthly clean-up campaign joining residents and other stakeholders to tidy their surroundings.
Speaking during the clean-up campaign on May 5, Greendale 3 Mandara District ZANU PF chairman Cde Chiwa Chipwere said the vendors were taking part in the clean-up campaign in order to avoid problems with residents who are complaining that they are not keeping the area clean.
He said the vendors are operating at those areas despite the fact that they are not designated sites due to the prevailing hard times.
“Most people who are here are people vending in this area even though it is not allowed for them to operate here.
“But because of difficult times that’s why they are found in these areas.
“But we are asking them to clean up the areas where they are operating so that they don’t have problems with residents.
“This has nothing to do with whether one is affiliated to ZANU PF, MDC or CCC. We are heeding the call by His Excellency President Mnangagwa who declared that the first Friday of the month be set aside for cleaning up,” said Cde Chipwere.
He said all the vendors dotted (from corner Pringle and Eastern Roads) up to corner Arcturus and Harare Drive took part in the clean-up on their own free will.
“It is clear that we are working together with our council and the district officer (Mrs Stella Mukwedeya) and assisting each other.
“Plans for them to have proper operating places or designated sites and other facilities as per the by-law will follow but for now, things are tough.
“I am saying this has nothing to do with politics.
“I don’t even know who is a member of which party but I as the chairman for this area I am pained to see people who are unemployed, some sitting on roadsides resulting in the rise in crime.
“If someone has nothing to do, that’s an idle mind and his plan B would be to jump into someone’s yard and steal.
Cde Chipwere appealed to the responsible authorities to ensure the informal traders were allocated proper vending sites where they pay fees.
“The vendors should also pay vending licenses so that when asked to produce them, they are able to produce one. Even an expired license is better than not paying anything.”
Cde Chipwere urged the vendors to practice cleanliness, respect residents and operate within the City of Harare’s by-laws.
After meeting with the vendors at corner Arcturus Road and Harare Drive, Cde Chipwere said they are facing numerous problems with residents.
“But these vendors are our children.
“They came to work in this area and their employment might have been terminated and they have nothing else to do and their means of survival now comes from vending.
“Some of them are not given enough money where they work and have to supplement their income by vending after work. So we are urging residents to accept them,” he said.
Cde Chipwere said ways should be found to accommodate the vendors for now while proper vending sites are established.
“This is not a time to chase away the vendors especially when we are towards elections. So we are ensuring all these areas where vendors operate from are clean due to some complaints from residents.”
A vendor operating along Harare Drive who spoke Suburban said they thought it was a good idea to take part in the clean-up.
“Residents are complaining that the area is dirty because of vendors but that is not true. Some people might be responsible for dropping the litter after eating but we are blamed for this so we have decided to defend ourselves and take part in the clean-up as the first Friday (of every month) is a day for cleaning up,” she said.
The woman said they even picked litter dropped by other people who are not their customers so that their customers shop in a clean environment.
She appealed to council to accommodate them so that they have designated vending places.
“When we applied (for vending places), they said you cannot operate without a receipt.
“But I have lost the letter so it’s an issue we are hoping they can look into,” she said.
She urged residents to allow them to vend in the area as they rely on it for their day to day lives.
“Some residents were complaining that some vendors are selling such things as drugs but we are appealing to the residents that while there may be some vendors selling drugs, if they can understand our plight so that we come to an agreement because things are tough for us and we rely on vending for our children’s fees and our day to day lives.
“So we hope the residents will understand this whether we can bring our own tables in the morning and take them in the evening and we keep our areas clean and also considering that there is cholera,” said the vendor.
Another vendor said she was happy to have taken part in the clean-up process as she has only seen it on television.
“So I am happy that today I have taken part in the clean-up,” she said.
Other vendors complained that some residents are dumping their garbage along Harare Drive and vendors are then blamed for it.
According to the vendors, the residents drive to the said place and dump their garbage.
Another vendor operating at corner Arcturus Road and Harare Drive said they decided to take part in the clean up to take responsibility of the places they operate in.
“We didn’t deny this and we cleaned as they want us to do. And some of the areas we are cleaning, it’s them the residents who are dumping the rubbish on Eastern Road,” he said.
Another vendor urged residents and themselves to come together in terms of keeping the area clean.
