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Charmaine Brown Herald Reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) yesterday descended on illegal vendors, pirate taxis and money changers as it intensifies efforts to bring sanity in the Harare Central Business District (CBD).

A survey conducted by The Herald yesterday showed that police were deployed in the Harare CBD in a move to achieve Harare City Council’s goal to achieve a world class city status by 2025.

The law enforcement agents managed to clear the streets in the morning, although defiant vendors resurfaced after 4:30pm along Robert Mugabe Road, Jason Moyo Avenue and Simon Muzenda (formerly Fourth) Street.

During the survey, The Herald also witnessed some of the pirate taxis still plying their usual routes even after their fellow mates were arrested by the ZRP.

Mr Emmanuel Goche, a shop owner along Robert Mugabe Road, said he was losing business to vendors who don’t pay rates or licence fees.

“We are facing stiff competition from these vendors who do not bear any costs such as rentals, licence fees, tax and labour.

“The vendors are selling their wares right in front of our shops, blocking our customers’ way into the shops.

“I also welcome the Government decision to get rid of the illegal vendors and even the money changers because they are discouraging people from banking their cash,” he  said.

Some of the illegal vendors said with high unemployment, vending was their only source of income and they had no choice but to continue playing cat and mouse games with the anti-riot police.

“We would like to urge vendors to comply with the orders and they should move to designated vending sites,” a police officer who declined to give his name  said.

A pirate taxi driver ,Mr Tawanda Tichayevei,  said he needed to fend for his family, hence we will continue pirating because that is our only livelihood   source.

Most motorists who spoke to The Herald welcomed the decision to push kombi and pirate taxis operators to designated sites, saying this will facilitate the free flow of traffic.