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Herald Reporters
Vendors in the Harare central business district (CBD) are furious over council’s failure to notify them of its intention to destroy their makeshift stalls.

Council has been destroying flea markets and food vendors’ stalls all over the CBD since last week.

In an interview with The Herald, the vendors said that they would have complied if they had been given time to move.

“The City of Harare officials came and collected their money as usual but they did not tell us to stop selling on the streets. No one has been here to tell us that they have banned us,” said Mr Solomon Mangwiro who operates at Simon Vengai Muzenda Street (formerly Fourth Street) bus terminus.

Another vendor, Ms Moreblessing Muchekenya said: “We have been disadvantaged, we used to pay for these tables but now the City Council is removing them without any notice. They should have informed us about this, we earn our living through vending. If they told us in advance we would be more prepared than this.

“Life has become tough because this is how we were earning a living.“

Another vendor said they should be allowed to continue making an honest living.

“We are not stealing from anyone but trying to earn a living through legal means,” said another vendor at Simon Muzenda bus terminus.

The city’s spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said council wanted to keep the city clean.

“We are removing rubble in places that were destroyed around town. In the process, we are taking advantage of the situation and advising vendors to move to their designated vending sites,” he said.

Vendors in the CBD have been blocking roads with their illegal structures and wares, resulting in motorists and pedestrians failing to move around freely.