The illegal occupation of Fifth Avenue in Bulawayo’s central business district by unlicensed vendors has divided the council with some councillors pushing for the formalisation of the trading area while others want the occupants removed.
The local authority has been engaged in running battles with illegal vendors and space barons who have taken over some of the streets and parcelled out stands.
In the latest council report, Ward 4 Councillor Silas Chigora enquired why Council had failed to deal with illegal vending since 2020.
“Did Council have adequate equipment and manpower to deal with illegal vending? He supported the proposal for the creation of vending bays along 5th Avenue. Only a few vending bays should be created and also allow parking,” read part of the Town, Lands and Planning Committee report.
This was also supported by ward 18 Councillor Concillia Mlalazi who concurred that it would be a challenge to remove the illegal vendors along 5th Avenue.
However, other councillors called for the enforcement of by-laws.
Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo observed that most of the illegal vendors were coming from outside the City and did not adhere to by-laws.
“She called on effective enforcement of by-laws. Egodini Mall project should be completed soon so that vending was controlled in the CBD,” read the report.
Ward 21 Councillor Tinevimbo Maposa encouraged residents to adhere to by-laws.
“Council had more than enough vending bays throughout the City to accommodate potential vendors. Illegal vending in the City should not be tolerated.”
In addition, ward 12 Councillor Lilian Mlilo said the management was delaying in the enforcement of by-laws and implementation of council resolutions.
“Fifth avenue illegal vendors should be removed and the road should be re-opened for traffic. Alderman Siboniso Khumalo supported the removal of illegal vendors along 5th Avenue and the re-opening of the street to two-way vehicular traffic,” the report read.
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mlandu Ncube did not support the regularisation of vending activities along 5th Avenue.
“He felt that option three was misguiding. 5th Avenue was a road and should be re-opened to two-way vehicular traffic. If illegal vending activities were allowed a wrong precedence was being set. There were illegal vendors who had started operating from Tower Block and Revenue Hall over the weekend. This should be stopped.
“Residents should be told to adhere to Council by-laws and register for vending accordingly. Vending along 5th Avenue was illegal and should be stopped while illegal vendors were removed. The Country had a law which banned the importation and selling of old second-hand clothes and surprisingly these were sold by the illegal vendors along Fifth Avenue,” read the report.
Contacted for a comment on the matter, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) Secretary for Administration, Thembelani Dube said Fifth Ave is already invaded by hooligans who have captured the area and it is only logical for the vending stalls to be formalised.
“Doing so may be a calculated strategy to temporarily address the challenge of illegal occupations,” said Dube.
He added that the speedy opening of the Egodini terminus is the lasting solution to the problem of vending spots sprouting in every corner of Bulawayo CBD’s peripherals.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) Director Michael Ndiweni said they are awaiting feedback from BCC and Government officials following a series of engagements on the issue.
