Vendors granted 2-day window to clear wares

GWERU City Council has given vendors a two-day window to clear their wares from stalls in the central business district (CBD) as it prepares to demolish vending structures.

According to a joint statement made by council and Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Larry Mavima yesterday, those who left wares in their stalls following Government’s five-week lockdown proclamation are allowed to get into the CBD today and tomorrow to clear the stalls before the local authority moves in.

“This a directive from Central Government and we have agreed in consultation with the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial

Affairs, the provincial Covid-19 taskforce and other stakeholders on how to implement the directive,” said Gweru Mayor Councillor Josian Makombe in a statement.

“We are closing down all the markets in the city. All informal traders with goods and wares at Kudzanai Long Distance Bus Terminus, Kombai Market and all the other markets dotted around the town should get into the city on 25 and 26 of April and remove their goods.”

Clr Makombe said informal traders were not required to seek letters that allowed them movement under the two-day moratorium.

“They do not need any letter (of movement) they just have to explain themselves at police road blocks and they will be allowed passage to the market places to pack and remove their goods,” he said.

Clr Makombe said the local authority identified a new place in Mtapa surbub where the affected vendors will be relocated.

He said work to construct new vending stalls outside the CBD was already under way.

“The whole purpose of the move is to upgrade our city to meet standards of a smart city,” said Clr Makombe. “Those affected will be re-allocated stalls in Mtapa and this new market place will be ready after the lockdown.”

Sen Mavima said Government and the City of Gweru were cognisant of the contribution by the informal sector to the country’s GDP.