THE Harare Informal Traders’ Council (HITC) yesterday took to the central business district in a bid to persuade its members to sell their products at designated points.
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HITC president Onismo Gore said their campaign was fruitful as they managed to convince many vendors to go to the designated vending points.
“The vendors were responding well and are for the idea of going back to the designated points for vending,” Gore said.
“There are some who did not want; who are accusing us of making them engage in politics, but some went to the designated places. It is an ongoing process and we believe that all the vendors will go to the points made for vending.”
City of Harare principal communications officer Michael Chideme said council saw it fit to involve the vendors’ association leaders to help them move their members to designated points.
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“We do not want vendors just being everywhere. This is why we designated vending points which are to be used,” Chideme said. “We realise the important role of the informal sector and we want them to co-operate with us.”
Council has so far designated nine vending sites which accommodate up to 1 000 vendors.
Vendors have been resisting moving to designated sites fearing that they would lose business.
But shop owners have also been complaining that vending was greatly affecting their businesses as vendors were selling their wares just in front of their premises.
Illegal vending has remained an eyesore and with the current harsh economic environment, many people have resorted to the trade to fend for their families.