By Rungano Dzikira
In a dramatic twist exposing the MDC-led Harare City Council (HCC)’s disorganisation, Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba has backtracked on demolitions of Harare and Chitungwiza’s unregistered informal businesses arguing that the army, police and municipal police did not have his backing.
In a public relations stance aimed at swaying public opinion in his favour, Mayor Gomba said, “We don’t subscribe to this notion of demolition before allocation of an alternative place. We want people to be relocated to the designated trading sites without force.” He said this while addressing members of the press in Harare this Wednesday.
Contrary to the purported ‘ignorance’ on the demolitions of these illegal structures, council last Thursday issued a warning to illegal traders in Mbare to vacate illegal vending sites. “All illegal tuckshop owners in Mbare are advised to urgently remove their structures before dawn tomorrow. Vendors are urged to relocate to designated trading sites. Illegal activities are blocking roads, walkways and entrances into rate paying businesses,” read HCC’s tweet.
A Mbare trader who spoke on condition of anonymity confided, “On Friday (last week), municipal police came here and ordered us to remove the structures within 24 hours or face unspecified consequences. Soldiers then came in on Saturday. They were armed and watching from their trucks, not saying anything.”
Confirming council’s involvement and that they were spearheading the operation and only resorted to army for maintaining order.
Asked for comment, HCC spokesperson, Michael Chideme chose to respond that council was advising traders who had been removed from illegal sites to visit their nearest district offices for space allocations, and to take up space at approved sites in order to avoid losing their investments.
Council is said to be currently inviting stakeholders with capacity to construct temporary and permanent vending infrastructure at designated sites to approach them for space allocation.
Chitungwiza’s ‘C’ Junction, Makoni Shopping Centre and Mbare areas are reported to have been the most affected by these demolitions.
