Street vendors cry foul

Faith Tevera and Sasha Khuphe

BULAWAYO – Bulawayo vendors allege that the criminalization of their operations by the Bulawayo City Council is further impoverishing them during a pandemic era that has brought  informal trade to its knees.

The neverending war pitting the  vendors against Bulawayo City Council security officers is the order of the day in Bulawayo’s Central Business District. Wares are usually confiscated by  the officers who are derogatorily known as ‘Makokoba.’  When this happens, as is often the case, vendors suffer substantial losses that tend to be difficult to recover from. The vendors said they have to “play ball” with the authorities if they are to recover their wares.

Speaking to  Community Podium, a vendor who spoke on condition of anonymity said,”I do not enjoy this kind of life but I am trying to eke out a living by selling  vegetables. Unfortunately,  I suffer losses almost everyday due to confiscation of my goods by Council security personnel. Even if I run and manage to escape from the officers, my tomatoes most certainly suffer breakage and I am forced to sell them at a give away price,” she said.

Another vendor said “omakokoba make our lives difficult. They do not understand that, just like them we have school children that need school fees. I do not have any other source of income apart from this and these running battles make it increasingly hard for me to support my family,” he said.

Tatenda Masi told this publication that as an unemployed youth, his only hope is selling but the conditions under which he conducts his business are stifling his efforts. He alleged that the authorities are hindering him  from earning anything as he spends most of his time running away from the council officers instead of selling his products.

Kwanele Moyo of Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), however encouraged the vendors to obtain licenses in order to avoid unnecessary clashes with  Council security.

“We encourage the vendors to apply for licences so that they operate legally The licences are applied for at Dugmore, between Dugmore and Basch Street. When vendors are in possession of licences, they are given space to peacefully conduct their business,” said Moyo.