More illegal vendors flock to Ward 18 in search of the dollar

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

Illegal vendors continue to flock to suburbs under Ward 18 virtually taking over every corner in the area with dodgy ones engaging in the trading of drugs and other dangerous substances.

Ward 18 covers Borrowdale, Borrowdale Brooke, Greystone Park, Helensvale, Philadelphia, Crowhill, Carrick Creagh, Umwinsidale, Glen Lorne and surrounding suburbs.

According to residents, some of the vendors have become so belligerent, that they are not even afraid of law enforcement agencies. The vendors are said to be stubborn and display aggressive behaviour towards residents or law enforcers who dare reprimand them.

The City of Harare’s municipal police have on several occasions ejected the vendors from the undesignated spots but they keep returning to the places to continue their illegal activities.

A section of the residents believe the vendors are emboldened by the patronage they receive from fellow residents who buy things from the informal traders. The sight of top-of-the-range vehicles frequenting the vendors’ sites also further assures the traders that their conduct and presence are not a bother to members of the community.

Residents are not only concerned about the activities of the vendors but road safety issues because most of the traders line up along busy roads and intersections risking being run over by cars. The residents said the matter needs urgent attention and urged fellow community members to refrain from buying from vendors at undesignated sites and support those operating from designated places.

Ward 18 Councillor Rufaro Matsika said vendors must be provided with designated places to operate from where they have sanitation facilities.

“It is important for us to have permanent areas for vendors to operate from as some of the places they currently operate from lack proper facilities such as ablution facilities and running water.

“As the Councillor I am working with the Department of Housing and Community Services (markets section) to also identify suitable land and positioning of our growing people’s markets and SMEs. So we continue embracing everyone though in an orderly manner guided by our local government laws and by-laws,” said Cllr Matsika.

Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira said the City of Harare should enforce by-laws and ensure order in communities.

“We need to desist from correcting anomalies after disasters have occurred. Prevention is always better than cure. The municipality must exert more effort in enforcing by-laws and ensuring the sustainability of their enforcement,” said Mr Mutyasira.