Illegal vendors operating in Harare and other urban centres have until September 9 to vacate unauthorised trading sites or face a Government-led clean-up opera...
Illegal vendors operating in Harare and other urban centres have until September 9 to vacate unauthorised trading sites or face a Government-led clean-up operation, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said.
In a statement yesterday, Minister Garwe said Government was concerned about the continued growth of illegal vending and informal trading at undesignated sites in Harare’s Central Business District and across the wider Harare Metropolitan province. He said the situation had created several challenges in urban areas.
According to Minister Garwe, illegal vending was compromising urban sanitation, blocking public pathways, disrupting formal businesses and creating congestion. He said the activities were also threatening public safety and health.
Advertisement
“The current state of disorderliness on the streets is intolerable,” Minister Garwe said.
He described illegal vending as “a threat to the health and security of our nation”, while also recognising the role of informal trading as a source of livelihood for people. However, he said informal trading must be carried out within the requirements of municipal by-laws and at legally designated marketplaces.
“Government acknowledges the existence of informal trading as a recognised avenue of livelihood,” he said. “This, however, should be within the bounds of municipal by-laws and at legally designated marketplaces.”
Minister Garwe said all vendors involved in illegal street and night trading had until September 9 to immediately leave unauthorised sites. They have been directed to relocate to lawful vending markets provided by local authorities.
He said that from September 9, the Ministry, working together with other Government ministries, departments and agencies, would begin a “comprehensive, zero-tolerance clean-up operation” targeting illegal vending sites across Harare and the broader Harare Metropolitan province.
“During this operation, all illegal vending structures, stalls, and sites will be completely disbanded,” Minister Garwe said.
The Government also plans to maintain municipal police deployments in areas that have been cleared. According to Minister Garwe, the officers will ensure that the sites are not reoccupied after the clean-up operation.
The operation will later be extended to other cities, towns and urban settlements across the country. Minister Garwe said the wider exercise was part of Government efforts to restore public order, cleanliness and trafficability in line with the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.
The Minister urged informal traders to use the seven-day period to comply with the directive voluntarily. He warned that those who fail to comply could risk losing their merchandise during the clean-up operation.
“We strongly urge all informal traders to take note of the advice, use this window, and comply with the directive voluntarily to avoid loss of their merchandise,” Minister Garwe said.
Local authorities have also been instructed to facilitate the immediate registration and orderly placement of compliant traders into designated structures. The directive is intended to allow informal traders who comply with the requirements to continue operating from lawful locations.
Minister Garwe said Government remained committed to creating “a sustainable, orderly, clean, and safe macro-economic environment”. He also urged residents and other stakeholders to cooperate with law enforcement agencies during the planned operation.
The seven-day ultimatum therefore gives illegal vendors operating in Harare and other affected urban areas until September 9 to leave unauthorised trading sites and move to designated vending markets. Government has indicated that enforcement will begin after the deadline, starting in Harare before being extended to other urban settlements across the country.
