Cat and mouse on city pavements

Lorraine Mathe

CONDUCTING business and walking in the streets and pavements of Bulawayo central business district (CBD) has become a nightmare for many because of the congestion caused by illegal vending at a time at least 10 000 vending bays lie vacant in the city with no takers.

The vendors sell vegetables, fruits, second-hand clothes, footwear, bread among other food stuffs making it practically impossible for pedestrians to manoeuvre their way home after work.

The ghastly situation on the city’s pavements wasn’t always like that.
History has it that the design of the streets of Bulawayo is rather peculiar and this was one fundamental reason; ox carts turning.

The city had wide streets that were broad enough to allow a span of oxen (or horses) to turn without difficulty, a provision which greatly assists the city’s traffic even in current times.

Bulawayo also once stood tall across the country and Africa as a better organised and cleanest city.
Today that former glory that the city was known for — clean streets, easy to maneuver pavements, an orderly transport system and vendors who operated in designated areas — is all gone.

A snap survey by B-Metro revealed that illegal vendors have literally taken over the city’s streets.
Most of the vendors make no attempt to deposit their litter in bins or clean the places where they operate from.

It seems street vendors have been allowed to do as they wish in the process making the second capital city an eyesore.
Pedestrians walking along Leopold Takawira Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street are forced to take extra care because the street has now attracted thieves as a result of congestion.

The congestion has also caused challenges for people with disabilities, especially those with wheelchairs to negotiate with difficulties as pavements are now blocked by illegal vendors and their goods.

Along 6th Avenue between Herbert Chitepo and Lobengula Street, a B-Metro news crew observed vendors dumping litter in the sanitary lane.
A vendor who operates at the corner 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street, blamed the local authority for not providing enough bins around the city.

“We end up throwing litter everywhere because the city council is not providing enough bins,” she said.
On how they evade being arrested by the municipal police she said: “We always stay alert so that when the municipal officers come we evacuate the spaces with our goods because we know it is illegal to sell on shop pavements,” she added.

“These are the matters that the local authority should be seized with at the moment to ensure that street vendors are removed from the streets and pavements,” in a protest-like fashion, one angry passerby was heard shouting while throwing his hands in the air.

“We are using these undesignated vending sites because we can’t afford vending fees being charged by the city council and we are prepared to face the battle with them since this is our source of income,” said a vendor who operates at Corner 11th Avenue and Fort Street.

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu said it was illegal for vendors to sell on shop pavements.
She said the local authority has no designated vending bay on any pavement.

“For illegal vendors to become legal they can register at the Dugmore Vending Office, Corner 6th Avenue Extension and Basch Street,” said Mpofu.
“The applicant has to bring a copy of their Identity Document (ID), processed fingerprint forms, proof of residence of a property in Bulawayo, two passport size photos and requisite fees for the licence.

“After submission one can trade using the receipt after payment while the licence is being processed and awaiting the signature of the Director of Health Services,’’ said Mpofu.

Mpofu said there were additional requirements for traders selling fruits and vegetables that they have to pay at Khami Clinic for pre-examination for contagious diseases.

“They are also given lessons on how to handle such food for the public. A vending licence is US$23 per year and a monthly rental for the bay is US$11,50 per month in the Central Business District. For sites outside the CBD, the licence is US$11,50 per year and rental for a bay is US$5.75 per month.

“The city of Bulawayo has approximately 10 000 vacant bays citywide which illegal traders are urged to register and take up,” said Mpofu.
Retail clothing giant, Edgars Stores Limited recently closed one of its branches situated along Herbert Chitepo Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue due to illegal forex traders and vendors selling on the shop pavement.

The giant retail clothing company cited the need to secure an alternative location that suits its brand expectation amid pressure from illegal forex dealers and vendors.
Edgars southern region operations manager Thulani Ncube said: “We have officially closed the branch, we won’t be using that place anymore because there is now an influx of illegal forex traders and vendors outside the store and it was no longer aligning with the expectations of our brand,” he said.

Ncube said the development had created tight competition among vendors and shops as informal traders usually sell their products at cheaper prices capitalising on the fact that they do not pay taxes, rent and bills as some of their products are smuggled into the country.

Mpofu added: “The city of Bulawayo continues to conduct enforcement targeted at all unruly elements taking place in the city. Some of these occur outside business hours which include informal traders of no fixed abode who live on the streets and sleep there.

“They also block roads making them untraffickable. They further compromise the sanitation of the city as they don’t have access to toilets and ablution facilities because they are operating from undesignated sites.”

In a report tabled in the latest council minutes councillors expressed concern over deterioration of cleanliness in the CBD.
“Councillor M (Mzama) Dube (Ward 25) was concerned about the deterioration of cleanliness in the CBD. The area along 5th Avenue was very dirty with a lot of illegal vending activities. He called on the council to enforce relevant by-laws and remove all illegal vendors in the CBD.

“Councillor D (Donaldson) Mabuto (Ward 9) noted that these vendors were deliberately frustrating the city’s vision of a smart city. He urged council to enforce relevant by-laws.

“Alderman S (Siboniso) Khumalo in response highlighted that the current situation along 5th Avenue was painting a wrong image for the city. Cases of the illegal vendors attacking municipal police had been reported. Council should engage more with the Central Government as council had no arresting powers and the magnitude of the problem required joint efforts,” the minutes read in part.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said vending was regulated by by-laws.
“It only becomes an offence when vendors are selling on shop corridors crowding and blocking pavements affecting the shop owners who are paying rent.

“We as the police, enforce laws that are already there and we assist the Bulawayo City Council in making sure that these vendors abide by the rules of getting registered to become legal vendors,” said Insp Ncube.