By Nyasha N Mukapiko

“The time for action to ensure that all informal traders and kombi operators adhere to the city by-laws has come”, these words were echoed by the Minister of Local Government, Public works and national housing Hon Ignatius Chombo yesterday at town house whilst officiating the launch the Harare sustainable cleanup campaign.

The launch was attended by some top government officials among them the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Hon Saviour Kasukuwere, Harare Metropolitan Province Resident Minister Miriam Chikukwa, Buhera North Legislator Joseph Chinotimba, acting Mayor Muzuwa and Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi and other dignitaries.

In her opening remarks Harare Metropolitan Province Resident Minister Miriam Chikukwa encouraged residents to change their behavior towards illegal activities such as wanton littering, use of pirate taxis, use of illegal pick up points and the indiscriminate choices of vending site.

“Harare city council should provide adequate bins and responsive pick up times to avoid overflowing of litter. On our part residents we should ensure that we bin all out litter or dug up compost which can later be used as manure”, the resident minister urged.

Minister Chombo said the city of Harare had made significant efforts in allocating approved vending sites to the people.

“I am informed that the Central Business District can only accommodate 6 000 informal traders, my plea is to the Registered vendors to  take up the space, registration centres for vendors are at Trafalgar Court, Julius Nyerere and Publicity Offices situated in the Africa Unity Square.

A number of mechanisms have been put in place to coerce members in the informal sector to relocate to the approved vending sites, associations have communicated this to vendors but I have learnt with great concern that some of them had decided to take the law into their own hands by defying the directive”, Minister Chombo added.

There should be no vending on road pavements, traffic intersections, road islands and in front of shops and offices, Minister Chombo further went on to say in his speech.

“Our city is decaying and becoming dilapidated, I’m therefore instructing Harare City Council to engage property owners to spruces buildings with immediate effect, illegal vending activities have repelled customers of the formalize business and we cannot allow this to continue at the risk of losing revenue through tax collection from business owners”, Minister Ignatius Chombo informed.

Chombo’s statement is barely coming after Sten Zvorwadza, chairman of the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) had castigated his statement after mentioning that vendors should be removed from the streets with immediate effect, arguing they were compromising health standards.

In a separate interview with the NAVUZ vice board chairman, Douglas Shumbayawonda said he was dismayed by the minister’s statement.

“I’m shocked by minister Chombo’s words, remember these words are coming from someone who suppose to be protecting vendors, the vending sites which he is saying was allocated to accommodate 6 000 vendors is not even enough for our vendors because within Harare CBD only we have got 20 000 vendors, us as a union we cannot do anything we follow the directive of the people we represent and they have already declined the move by the minster”, the emotional Douglas Shumbayawonda said.

Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Savior Kasukuwere also warned perpetrators of environment offences saying that every one found wanting will be brought to book.

“As a ministry we will use all the environment statutory provisions to ensure that a clean, safe and healthy environment is attained, all those who use kaylite for fast food packaging must be thinking for alternatives because we have given you ample time but to no avail”, Minister Kasukuwere warned.

The minister of environment also informed celebrities against litter, who were part of the attendance, chiefly among them the City of Harare ambassador Dereck Mpofu, Sulumani Chimbetu and Leonard Zhakata to go and tell their counterparts to look for other paperless means of advertising as the sticking of poster on walls and trees were no longer condoned.