At least 300 municipal police officers will be deployed across Harare today as the city intensifies its crackdown on illegal vending and urban disorder under the Chenesa Harare campaign.

The operation will start at the intersection of E.D. Mnangagwa Road and Samora Machel Avenue before moving to other high-density areas.

Harare Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume said more officers could be added depending on the situation.

“We are going to increase the complement of municipal police officers who will be on the streets tomorrow to about 200 or 300, or more should the situation require,” he said.

Cllr Mafume said the initial phase will be “largely persuasive and peaceful,” with vendors urged to move to designated sites.

“We are simply moving from phase to phase and emphasising the need for vendors to operate in an orderly manner and at designated places,” he said.

The council says illegal vending is causing congestion and undermining efforts to improve traffic flow and cleanliness. Defending council markets, Mafume cited Mbare:

“We have built one of the best markets in Africa, if not the world. The place has some of the best toilets, excellent storage facilities, proper lighting and good ventilation. Yet vendors prefer to sell outside,” he said.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said the intervention is not about victimisation.

“Let me state from the outset that this is not a declaration of war against vendors or formal traders. This is not an act of victimisation against anyone,” he said.

“We recognise that vending provides livelihoods to thousands of Zimbabweans. We also recognise the economic circumstances that have driven many people into informal trading,” he added.

Garwe said the situation was “no longer acceptable” and inconsistent with Vision 2030 and NDS2.

Zimbabwe National Vendors Association CEO Abel Zvobgo said vendors should comply:

“We resolved, as the leadership of the Zimbabwe National Vendors Association, that our membership should comply with the Minister’s directive,” he said.