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Several arrests as vendors demonstrate at mayor's office in Bulawayo
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
July 05, 2006

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news050706/bulvendors050706.htm

Close to 200 street vendors marched to City Hall in Bulawayo on Wednesday to demonstrate against harassment by police who are preventing them from selling their goods on the street. Many of the vendors are not licensed by the council and a joint operation between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Bulawayo municipal police has been targeting them and confiscating their property. Our Bulawayo correspondent Themba Nkosi reports that the demo was an appeal to Mayor Japhet Ndabeni Ncube to help them, because this is the only way they can make a living. He said the march to City Hall was peaceful with police surprisingly not interfering. But the vendors were ordered to disperse as they made their way on to the grounds at City Hall. A few of them refused and were arrested by riot police.

The government destroyed many businesses and homes last year during its demolition exercise Operation Murambatsvina and displaced nearly a million people countrywide. This has led to the growth in many areas of a large and thriving informal sector which the authorities are trying hard to eliminate.

Unemployment stands at over 80% and inflation is close to 1,200% so even professionals like teachers and nurses are finding it necessary to sell any goods they can get as a way to make extra money.

This is the second time this week that the Bulawayo Mayor has had to deal with frustrated groups asking for his assistance with this vending issue. On Monday Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) gave him a dose of what they call "tough love" when they descended on his offices and forced him to listen to the plight of many women who sell goods on the street. Nkosi said the council is making efforts to accommodate more vendors by building new bays and setting up markets at new locations. But it is impossible to make room for the ever increasing numbers of people who are resorting to selling whatever they can get their hands on. And many cannot afford the license fees charged by council.

The government has failed to provide any alternatives. Running battles and cat and mouse games between police and vendors are being reported in many areas of the country. If no solution is found soon to the overall economic crisis government will have to deal with more than just demos.

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