Street sellers want to talk with officials about the two-day warning they received to leave unauthorized selling spots. The government announced this cleanup plan across the country because they worry about health, safety, and money issues. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe made the announcement Wednesday, saying cities need better order.
Many sellers in Bulawayo and other places feel mixed about this news. They agree things need fixing but want everyone involved in the plan. Sawu Jere speaks for Bulawayo vendors and says they understand order matters but everyone should work together on fixing problems. Since these changes affect how vendors make money, Jere thinks they should help decide what happens next.
Vendors say they want to solve the real reasons behind illegal trading spots. They hope for fair solutions that address both what the government needs and what street sellers face daily. Benhilda Zinyemba sells near Fifth Avenue marketplace and likes the cleanup idea but points out problems with how selling spaces were given out. She says some people who asked for spots never got them, yet strangers received spaces.
Zinyemba believes the two-day warning should only target people selling where they shouldn't be. She says many vendors ended up where they are because officials made mistakes. Vusumuzi Mabhena sells second-hand clothes and asks leaders to change their minds about the short deadline. Nicholas Gombera agrees, explaining street selling provides the only income for many families.
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart says the city already has places for vendors, but some refuse to move there. He points out hundreds of spots exist across the city, including at Bhakta's, where working bathrooms exist. Coltart stressed that these spots belong only to Bulawayo residents. The mayor plans to check who received selling stands and wants to bring back law and order through teamwork with police and vendor groups.
Coltart promises the cleanup will happen with kindness and asks vendors to help. In Midlands Province, Gweru Vendors Association leader Everisto Mbenjani complains that the warning came suddenly, with almost no time to find new places. He says people sell on the streets because they must, not because they want to, and he asks officials to build proper selling stalls.
Zvishavane Mayor Takarangana Keta counts about 1,000 legal vendors plus 800 illegal ones in his town. He says they started moving street sellers away and work with police to enforce rules. Local money expert Trust Chikohora supports clearing vendors from shop walkways but thinks they need proper locations with bathrooms and good facilities.
Chikohora urges the government to find other places for vendors before removing them. Denford Mutashu from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers says street selling happens worldwide but needs better rules. He points to China, where special malls exist just for vendors based on what they sell. Mutashu worries about young children working as vendors who might get involved with drugs or sex work, especially in big cities like Harare and Bulawayo.
Many sellers in Bulawayo and other places feel mixed about this news. They agree things need fixing but want everyone involved in the plan. Sawu Jere speaks for Bulawayo vendors and says they understand order matters but everyone should work together on fixing problems. Since these changes affect how vendors make money, Jere thinks they should help decide what happens next.
Vendors say they want to solve the real reasons behind illegal trading spots. They hope for fair solutions that address both what the government needs and what street sellers face daily. Benhilda Zinyemba sells near Fifth Avenue marketplace and likes the cleanup idea but points out problems with how selling spaces were given out. She says some people who asked for spots never got them, yet strangers received spaces.
Zinyemba believes the two-day warning should only target people selling where they shouldn't be. She says many vendors ended up where they are because officials made mistakes. Vusumuzi Mabhena sells second-hand clothes and asks leaders to change their minds about the short deadline. Nicholas Gombera agrees, explaining street selling provides the only income for many families.
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart says the city already has places for vendors, but some refuse to move there. He points out hundreds of spots exist across the city, including at Bhakta's, where working bathrooms exist. Coltart stressed that these spots belong only to Bulawayo residents. The mayor plans to check who received selling stands and wants to bring back law and order through teamwork with police and vendor groups.
Coltart promises the cleanup will happen with kindness and asks vendors to help. In Midlands Province, Gweru Vendors Association leader Everisto Mbenjani complains that the warning came suddenly, with almost no time to find new places. He says people sell on the streets because they must, not because they want to, and he asks officials to build proper selling stalls.
Zvishavane Mayor Takarangana Keta counts about 1,000 legal vendors plus 800 illegal ones in his town. He says they started moving street sellers away and work with police to enforce rules. Local money expert Trust Chikohora supports clearing vendors from shop walkways but thinks they need proper locations with bathrooms and good facilities.
Chikohora urges the government to find other places for vendors before removing them. Denford Mutashu from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers says street selling happens worldwide but needs better rules. He points to China, where special malls exist just for vendors based on what they sell. Mutashu worries about young children working as vendors who might get involved with drugs or sex work, especially in big cities like Harare and Bulawayo.
