Vendors have resurfaced in the Harare Central Business District, crowding on pavements as they sell their wares from fresh fruits, groceries, school uniforms and other goods on the streets following the relaxation of lockdown measures by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Speaking to this reporter, Harare City Council Spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme said that they are going to embark on an exercise to remove all illegal vendors in the CBD.
”We are carrying out an exercise to remove all illegal vendors from undesignated sites in the CBD,
”We will ensure that all vendors go to designated sites.” Chideme said.
He added that, they do not look down upon vendors but they should only sell their wares at the respective designated sites.
”We do not look down upon vendors, a proper action will be made to ensure that they will sell at the respective sites.” He said.
We interviewed some of the vendors in the city, and they said they were struggling to put food on the table during the lockdowns and so are now back at work as vending is their sole way of earning an income.
”We have been struggling at home for a very long time and we did have any way of making a living,
”We were relieved when the President relaxed the lockdown regulations, as we were starving since we had no other sources of income.” Said a vendor who declined to be named.
A significant number of vendors are now targeting the back to school market by selling school uniforms and other school necessities as schools are about to open.
”We have resorted to selling school uniforms, because schools are about to open, life is now better as compared to the life we lived during the lockdown. Things have changed for the better as we can now feed our families,
”Municipal police officers often come, tongotizawo tichidzoka zvasiyana nekugara, hatina mari dzemalicence dzekupa council izvozvi tichangotanga.” Said another Vendor.
Another vendor Dhedza Chingoro, said that lockdown had been difficult as they survived on one meal a day.
”Lockdown was very difficult for us vendors everyday we had no food, we could only survive on one meal a day. ” He said.
