Harare City Council plans another street vendor removal operation Wednesday night from downtown streets. This marks yet another attempt among countless previous failures. Zimbabwe Republic Police officers will join city workers as they have during past unsuccessful sweeps. These joint efforts repeatedly failed to permanently clear informal sellers from city sidewalks.
Housing director Addmore Nhekairo announced the plan during a tax collection event, speaking for acting town clerk Phakamile Moyo. He mentioned they coordinated with local government officials about the zero-tolerance approach starting Wednesday. Nhekairo emphasized the operation needs proper funding to succeed. The police department fully backs what he called a serious initiative.
Earlier cleanup campaigns like Operation Chenesa Harare never solved the underlying problems. High unemployment rates across Zimbabwe keep pushing more people into street selling. Many college graduates sell food, clothing, vegetables, fruits, and second-hand items because formal jobs remain scarce. These economic pressures continue to make enforcement nearly impossible.
Street vendors constantly run from approaching council trucks that seize their merchandise and arrest sellers. These enforcement vehicles break traffic rules themselves when chasing elderly women selling tomatoes or young boys offering candy. Similar crackdowns date back to Operation Murambatsvina during the early 2000s, with many repeated attempts through 2024.
Health services director Prosper Chonzi admitted last year that economic realities defeated their enforcement efforts. He described the situation as an unwinnable game of hide and seek with desperate vendors. Chonzi expressed frustration with downtown conditions that undermined city improvement goals. The persistent street selling directly contradicts what officials hope to achieve.
Housing director Addmore Nhekairo announced the plan during a tax collection event, speaking for acting town clerk Phakamile Moyo. He mentioned they coordinated with local government officials about the zero-tolerance approach starting Wednesday. Nhekairo emphasized the operation needs proper funding to succeed. The police department fully backs what he called a serious initiative.
Earlier cleanup campaigns like Operation Chenesa Harare never solved the underlying problems. High unemployment rates across Zimbabwe keep pushing more people into street selling. Many college graduates sell food, clothing, vegetables, fruits, and second-hand items because formal jobs remain scarce. These economic pressures continue to make enforcement nearly impossible.
Street vendors constantly run from approaching council trucks that seize their merchandise and arrest sellers. These enforcement vehicles break traffic rules themselves when chasing elderly women selling tomatoes or young boys offering candy. Similar crackdowns date back to Operation Murambatsvina during the early 2000s, with many repeated attempts through 2024.
Health services director Prosper Chonzi admitted last year that economic realities defeated their enforcement efforts. He described the situation as an unwinnable game of hide and seek with desperate vendors. Chonzi expressed frustration with downtown conditions that undermined city improvement goals. The persistent street selling directly contradicts what officials hope to achieve.
