Council puts 4th Street Terminus vendors on notice

Vendors have erected stalls around the Fourth Street Bus Terminus

Zim Now Writer

The City of Harare is urging space barons at Fourth Street Bus Terminus to remove their shacks before Council moves in to assist.

In a statement, the council said the invasion of Fourth Street Bus Terminus as a market by space barons is illegal.

It said only council officials are mandated to allocate vending spaces.

“By this notice, members of the public and vendors are being urged not to pay anyone to use tables on the illegal market,” reads the statement.

The council said the informal sector contributes to the income generation of the country but vendors must follow council procedures.

“We accept that the informal sector is critical in income generation but there is need to balance that with order and compliance with by-laws.

“Council recognises the important role played by the informal sector in the national economy, especially during this period when our country is facing macro-economic challenges,” reads the statement.

Meanwhile, Harare Metropolitan Province is amplifying its efforts towards the reopening of Mupedzanhamo Market in Mbare.

In September last year, there were violent clashes between suspected Zanu PF and Citizens Coalition for Change space barons as they wrestled to control marketing spaces in the popular Mupedzanhamo Market.

The reopening of the Market has stalled as work on refurbishment of the market continues.

However, traders have erected structures outside the market where they sell their wares but there are running battles with the police who have routinely tried to remove them.