Informal traders operating on 5th Avenue in Bulawayo have till this Sunday to vacate the site in order to make way for the establishment of vending bays, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has said.
BCC said this move is in line with the council resolution passed on February 7, 2024 and further warned that informal traders who refuse, would face punishment.
After engaging with informal traders, BCC resolved to open 5th Avenue and some sections of 2nd Avenue for vending, subject to the renovation of the places, which requires temporary closure of the site.
Bulawayo Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, confirmed that informal traders must leave 5th Avenue by Sunday to allow for cleaning, demarcation of bays, construction of safe working spaces and allocation of vending bays in the usual manner.
“All traders and vending activities along 5th Avenue are requested to vacate the road to allow the implementation of the Council resolution of the 7th February 2024 no later than Sunday, 18 February 2024. Failure to comply will lead to enforcement,” said Dube in a statement.
“This is to accommodate cleaning of the area, demarcation of bays, and construction of safe working spaces and allocation of vending bays in the usual manner.”
The town clerk said the council resolved to temporarily close a portion of 5th Avenue to accommodate 500 informal trading bays.
“Meetings have been held by the city and members of the Bulawayo Informal Sector Working Group for the implementation of the resolution,” he said, adding that members and leaders of the various associations were requested to inform the informal traders.
“At the meetings held earlier this week, members and leaders of the various associations were requested to inform their members that a portion of 5th Avenue will be temporarily closed to accommodate vending bays. Roadshows and public announcements are also being carried out to engage the informal sector.”
Dube said all informal traders who were to operate within the city were required to have a valid vendor’s licence, whose registration is done at Dugmore Vending Offices (former Dugmore Clinic) along Basch Street and 6th Avenue.
“Informal traders should pay a Central Business District Licence Fee that costs US$23 per year, and monthly rentals of $11. 50 per month,” said the town clerk.
“Informal traders operating outside the CBD pay a Licence Fee that costs US$11.50 per year and monthly rentals of US$5.75.”
The town clerk said the informal traders were required to produce a copy of their Identity Document (ID), processed fingerprint forms (vetted by CID), proof of residence for a property in Bulawayo (in the form of a water or electricity, bill, two passport-size photos and requisite fees for the licence.
For those trading in fruits and vegetables, they should produce pre-examination for contagious diseases and lessons on food handling with the City of Bulawayo Health Services Department (Khami Road Clinic).
