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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo and his fellow MDC- T councillors have clashed over the recent blitz on vendors.

In a press statement on Friday, MDC-T councillors represented by Ward 4 Councillor Silas Chigora, said they were against the arrest of unlicensed vendors in the city.

On the same day the mayor, Cllr Moyo said council fully supported the clampdown on illegal vendors.

Following the blitz, 300 illegal vendors were arrested.

“As MDC- T councillors we want to make it very clear that the recent vendors harassment and confiscation of wares was not sanctioned by councillors. This is being commandeered by council staff against councillors’ resolution passed three months ago,” said Cllr Chigora.

He accused the council employees of harassing vendors in order to please the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and National Housing Cde Saviour Kasukuwere.

“They are doing it in order to please Kasukuwere (Minister) who has openly declared war on vendors,” he said.

Cllr Chigora said council should appreciate that unemployment was high in the city following the closure of many companies and as such many people had turned to vending.

“Unemployment rate stands at 92 percent, a fact that the previous Finance Minister once referred to in his budget presentation. What it means is that only eight percent are able to plan their lives basing on their monthly incomes while the rest do not know where their next meal comes from,” said Cllr Chigora.

He said they were aware of the need to have order in the city but felt that people’s bread and butter issues came first. “Go to the industrial area and see for yourselves. What used to be manufacturing companies are now housing churches,” said the councillor.

Cllr Moyo said the vendor menace was caused by people from outside Bulawayo who came to the city to sell their wares.

“We have a problem of aliens who come to Bulawayo, spend the day selling their stuff, which is a health risk as they would not have even bathed properly having slept in the streets,” he said.

The mayor said the city could not allow people to do as they please in the city centre, causing havoc under the name of poverty.

“These so called harassed vendors are illegal hawkers who just sit on pavements or streets  blocking traffic. We cannot allow such disorder. People should just regularise their trade and seek vending licences,” said the Mayor.

@andile_tshuma