HARARE City Council (HCC) at the weekend demolished illegal vendor structures in Harare’s high density suburbs of Mbare and Highfields.
HCC said it razed down the illegal structures “as part of the informal sector reorganisation in preparation for an orderly post COVID-19 strategy.”
There appeared to be no prior warning by city authorities to owners of the affected structures, with HCC apparently in a hurry to accomplish their mission while many people were in COVID-19-induced lockdown.
“I was at home with my family when rumours filtered that our tables were being dismantled,” Janet Mamutse, a Mbare resident, said.
Mamutse owns a table opposite Mupedzanhamo market by the traffic lights where she sells second hand clothes.
Areas so far affected by the demolitions are Chishawasha, structures along the Rufaro Stadium Road leading to Mbare Musika and the one opposite the cemetery road leading into the city.
This publication yesterday heard from a disgruntled Mbare vendor how they are made to pay by some corrupt HCC officials each time they would put up their structures again after every such demolitions.
“We pay through the nose to both politicians and city officials to put up these illegal structures each time they are destroyed,” said a Mbare vendor who declined to be identified for fear of victimisation.
In a statement on its Facebook page, HCC said it would put in place a barricaded place where those affected by the current demolitions would be hosted.
“The City removed illegal market stalls at Chishawasha in Mbare. Vendors at the site will be accommodated inside barricades until construction of the shopping complex (is completed),” read the statement.
“Members of the informal sector who have been operating on roadsides will be absorbed into the Shawasha Complex. City teams begin work on the complex on Monday,” HCC added.
Meanwhile, City of Harare Municipal Police on Sunday destroyed informal traders’ markets at Machipisa Shopping Centre in Highfields, noted Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) .