TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) municipal police are cashing in on illegal traders as they collect bribes from those operating in undesignated areas.
Failure to pay the bribes results in illegal vendors being harassed or their wares confiscated, an informal trader Andile Ndlovu said.
“We see the officers roaming around the city. They will have certain people where they just go straight to and collect money from them,” Ndlovu said.
“It’s something that is out in the open. We have been complaining about this issue, but the authorities are not acting.”
Streets and pavements in the country’s second largest city are a complete mess as vendors leave rotting produce for the council to clean up.
But BCC, which is reeling from fuel shortages, has minimised operations giving vendors a free rein on the city streets.
The congestion is attracting pickpockets who harvest cash and other valuables from unsuspecting residents
BCC teams conduct raids in the city centre and could be seen apprehending vendors hiding among crowds waiting to board buses to their various destinations in town.
Ndlovu said: “It’s not fair. I pay my monthly bills for the stand but someone who does not pay anything to the city council just comes in front of me and starts selling his or her products.”
Contacted for a comment, the BCC acting town Clerk, Sikhangele Zhou, said: “As the city council we are appealing to everyone to help us fight corruption by giving us information about it. Come to the responsible authorities and report the issue.”
Meanwhile the Bulawayo Vendors Trust Association and its partners are helping young informal traders start and grow their businesses in the city.
The organisation’s executive director Mike Ndiweni said the model would help youths achieve their goals
“We brought together young people and stakeholders like the ministry of SMEs to discuss and contribute in developing a youth business support model that is forming part of the work that we are doing with the Plan international. They are supporting the safe and inclusive city’s project that is implemented by ourselves and also other partners,” Ndiweni said.
Currently, the association is setting up an innovation hub to transform the lives of vulnerable youths in the informal sector in the city through capacitation of information, communication and technology skills.
