Chiredzi relocates 1 200 vendors

CHIREDZI Town Council has relocated close to 1 200 illegal vendors, who were operating from undesignated areas, as it moves to bring sanity to the sugar cane growing town.

Council also demolished more than 50 illegal tuckshops.

The relocation of illegal vendors and destruction of illegal tuck shops came after the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum that it issued to vendors to stop operating from undesignated vending sites.

Chiredzi district administrator Mr Lovemore Chisema hailed Chiredzi town council for bringing sanity to the sugar cane growing town.

He said the vendors were relocated to new designated vending sites that were created by council.

“Council opened more than 1 200 new vending stalls around Chiredzi town where vendors will now be operating from,” said Mr Chisema. “We are delighted with the level of cooperation from vendors in this town and we continue to call upon them to visit council offices and register so that they are allocated vending stalls where they can operate legally.”

Chiredzi Residents and Rate Payers Association chairman Mr Jonathan Muusha appealed to Chiredzi town council to urgently identify alternative space for tuck shop owners whose structures were destroyed.

“We are calling upon council to avail stands for tuck shops that were destroyed because the owners no longer have a source of income to sustain their families,” said Mr Muusha.

Chiredzi Town Council chairman Councillor Francis Moyo said his council would always be ready to assist residents.

“Council is open to suggestions and proposals from residents,” he said.

“We have received requests to avail pieces of land for those who were illegally operating tuck-shops and we will see if we can find land for them.” — Masvingo Bureau.