By Loice Dube
Opposition Kambizi Party has condemned the ill treatment of vendors by the Harare City Council and soldiers, vowing that his party will assist vendors to grow their businesses as they contribute to the Zimbabwean economy.
Addressing journalists today in Harare, Kambizi Party President, Henry Mutasa said his government was going to protect the vendors as the vendors are the economy of the country.
“The Kambizi party will help vendors to grow their businesses to become shops, supermarkets, and malls according to the vision of each vendor,” said Mutasa.
“We will not beat up vendors under Kambizi party led government because vendors are the Barbours and OKs of tomorrow, they are the Meikles of tomorrow, Meikles started by vending, the Whiteman was making tea with his wife by that corner. So vendors are the most important people in Zimbabwean economy but ZANU PF government will tell you they are the least important. That is why I formed my party because we have very serious differences,” he added.
Vendors in America are respected unlike here in Zimbabwe whereby they are brutalised by the law enforcement agents. He adds vendors must be promoted as they are a key player in the country’s economy elsewhere in the world.
“Even in America, the people that are running the economy are not big corporates, they are the back door businesses, that is what they are called in America but here we destroy all of them, here you see the army, the President saying get out of the road. You are sending your economy in the toilet,” highlighted Mutasa.
Vendors in Zimbabwe have been facing difficult times following the city council’s directive to move them to Coca-Cola the market is not suitable for their wares. Today saw violent clashes between vendors and police in Harare CBD whereby the police were throwing teargas to disperse the vendors
Kambizi party was formed on the 20th of October 2016 by Henry Mutasa who failed to contest in the July 2018 harmonised elections after failing to raise $1000 to register as a presidential candidate.
