The Sunday News
Thobekile Khumalo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has started raiding illegal vendors operating in town at night as part of efforts to restore sanity in the city centre.
In an interview, council spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said this was being done to ensure that all by-laws were followed.
“The Bulawayo City Council tries by all means to make sure that the illegal late night vendors are dealt with and all by-laws are followed. We have resumed in carrying out occasional raids done by municipal cops to bring sanity in the city centre,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu said some vendors were conducting their business after working hours to avoid paying rates and target mass movement of people soon after closure of business.
“Vendors take each and every opportunity to vend including after business hours. They target mass movement of people soon after closure of businesses. This is caused by the current economic situation that the country is facing,” said Mrs Mpofu.
“The economic situation at hand is also a cause to the increase of illegal late night vendors who will be trying to earn money for their survival. However, it does not mean that by-laws have to be broken because it leads to disorder as well as an unpeaceful and chaotic environment within the city.”
Mrs Mpofu said council has tried to hold meetings with vendors to establish new vending sites for them.
“The Bulawayo City Council engages in meetings with vendors and their representatives monthly to view and also establish new vending sites in the CBD area in order to maintain order. The council also engages in vendors’ meetings every month to make sure that their needs and plans for orderly vending are met,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu said vendors who fail to comply with the by-laws will be fined.
