Harare's city leaders are gearing up for another crackdown on street vendors, a recurring battle that's become all too familiar. The local government and Zimbabwe Republic Police plan to launch an aggressive operation targeting sellers in the city's central business district, hoping to clear out unauthorized merchants.
City officials met with the local government ministry to strategize their latest attempt at cleaning up the streets. Housing director Addmore Nhekairo emphasized the seriousness of the operation, stressing the need for proper resources and support from law enforcement. However, history suggests these efforts may fall short once again.
Zimbabwe's economic challenges have pushed countless individuals into street selling, including graduates struggling to find employment. Young people and elderly women hawk everything from produce to clothing, desperately trying to make a living. Council vehicles routinely swoop down, confiscating goods and arresting vendors who are simply trying to survive.
Previous attempts to clear the streets date back to Operation Murambatsvina in the early 2000s, with numerous failed initiatives since then. Last year, health services director Prosper Chonzi candidly admitted the city's inability to control street vending, acknowledging that the struggling economy makes their efforts futile. The cat-and-mouse game between vendors and authorities continues, with no real solution in sight.
City officials met with the local government ministry to strategize their latest attempt at cleaning up the streets. Housing director Addmore Nhekairo emphasized the seriousness of the operation, stressing the need for proper resources and support from law enforcement. However, history suggests these efforts may fall short once again.
Zimbabwe's economic challenges have pushed countless individuals into street selling, including graduates struggling to find employment. Young people and elderly women hawk everything from produce to clothing, desperately trying to make a living. Council vehicles routinely swoop down, confiscating goods and arresting vendors who are simply trying to survive.
Previous attempts to clear the streets date back to Operation Murambatsvina in the early 2000s, with numerous failed initiatives since then. Last year, health services director Prosper Chonzi candidly admitted the city's inability to control street vending, acknowledging that the struggling economy makes their efforts futile. The cat-and-mouse game between vendors and authorities continues, with no real solution in sight.
