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Municipal Reporter

Traders and touts across Harare remain reluctant to fully comply with Government and World Health Organisation Covid-19 regulations, posing the risk of rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At Mbare Musika in Harare, the country’s biggest fresh produce market, traders continued defying Covid-19 control regulations with many of them going about their business without wearing face masks.

They were also not observing social distancing raising concern over the rapid spread of the virus.

There was a similar situation at Mupedzanhamo market where vendors continued to encroach onto road servitudes, causing traffic congestion.

Since last week, the illegal traders mostly selling second-hand clothes, commonly referred to as mabhero, were displaying their wares on road servitudes.

They spent the better part of the day engaging in cat and mouse chases with police.

In the Central Business District, touts were also competing for passengers without wearing face masks.

At the corner of Chinhoyi Street and Jason Moyo four touts were observed playing hide and seek with police with face masks only covering chins.

Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme urged people to observe regulations and guidelines laid down by the Government and WHO.

“People are not observing Covid-19 control regulations. Enforcement will be enhanced,” he said.