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Mr Chideme

Melissa Makoto Herald Reporter
The Harare City Council has warned informal traders against paying vending fees to space barons and associations, saying the move was detrimental since the money is not used for the development of the vending sites.

In a statement issued yesterday council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said there have been false claims by some associations that the city’s move to install tents was designed to remove vendors from their legally allocated spaces, when in fact they were designed to protect the people against profiteering by individuals fronting the associations.

“In the interest of protecting the majority (informal traders), council is erecting tents at all CBD sites and newly established bus ranks (Coventry, Rhodesville, Coca- Cola Corner and Bulawayo Road behind the National Sports Stadium,” he said

“All informal traders are encouraged to only pay for trading space to council.”

He said offer letters that were previously issued to associations have been withdrawn, meaning all associations should remove their tents forthwith.