MEMBERS of the Patriotic Vendors4ED movement were reportedly ordered to close their stalls along 5th Avenue in Bulawayo last week to boost attendance at National Culture Month celebrations officiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Barbourfields Stadium.
The event, held under the theme “Cultural Diversity: Advancing Vision 2030,” was mostly attended by school children.
Highlanders Football Club members also helped to swell crowd numbers.
Patriotic Vendors4ED chairman Esawu Jere and Good Works National chairman Albert Chinomwe visited 5th Avenue to address traders, most of whom trade illegally, but are protected by Zanu PF from removal by the Bulawayo City Council, urging them to attend.
“We have temporarily closed our Patriotic Vendors4ED vending bays on 5th Avenue to attend this event,” Jere said.
“We have said the whole road must be closed and people must go to the president at Barbourfields Stadium.”
He confirmed vendors were taken to the stadium by buses to support the president.
Chinomwe added: “5th Avenue was not freely given, it was brought by Zanu PF.”
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“Zanu PF gave us 5th Avenue. Consequently, we support our father Mnangagwa.”
The remarks confirm longstanding concerns by Bulawayo councillors that overcrowding and illegal vending along 5th Avenue remain unsolvable because traders are politically protected.
Vendors operating along 6th Avenue claim to have been allocated vending bays by suspected Zanu PF activists.
Councillors have repeatedly said they are failing to remove unlicensed traders amid revelations that Zanu PF shields them in exchange for electoral support.
Council once revealed plans to relocate the vendors to their places of residence.
The plan was met with resistance.
Irate members of the Vendors4ED also once stormed Bulawayo City Hall in protest over the removal of their tables.
The National Culture Month commemorations featured cultural performances and messages promoting unity among the country’s diverse communities.
