Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

Cabinet has approved a comprehensive set of measures to address illegal vending and associated activities in the Harare Central Business District (CBD) as part of efforts to restore order.

The measures, presented by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona, are aimed at restoring order, safeguarding public health, formalising livelihoods and improving the functionality of the capital.

According to the Cabinet briefing, the interventions focus specifically on illegal vending, while interventions to address other urban management challenges such as illegal transport operations, deteriorating road infrastructure and organised crime will be announced in due course.

The approved plan adopts a coordinated approach that balances enforcement with the provision of lawful trading alternatives under four pillars namely: Legislate, Provide,  Formalise and Enforce.

Under the Provide pillar, government will accelerate the servicing of 100 identified vending sites across Harare’s suburbs with potable water, ablution facilities, lighting, shelter, waste management and storage. A new modern satellite market  will also be developed on the periphery of the CBD to accommodate traders.

Under the Formalise pillar, a 60-Day One-Stop Formalisation Drive will be launched in liaison with the City of Harare and relevant stakeholders. The drive will include the establishment of a Harare Vendors Council for co-management of sites and dispute resolution. Formalised vendors will be linked to financial institutions for working capital support.

Under the Enforce and Legislate pillars, a CBD Urban Management Command chaired by the City of Harare will be constituted to “Clear, Clean, Keep” the city orderly, with illegal vendors being relocated under strict enforcement.

Government also announced that the processing of the Municipal Police and Courts Bill is being expedited to enable Harare Municipal Police to enforce relevant by-laws and to operationalise Municipal Courts for expeditious prosecution of municipal offences through simplified procedures.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has already launched a 60-day exercise to clean up Harare streets and relocate vendors to official sites.