VISET members stage a peaceful demonstration

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)’s Informal Sector Corruption Tracking Teams at Mbudzi Roundabout vending stalls yesterday September the 13th, staged a peaceful demonstration against the Harare City Council’s decision to evict them from their current vending stalls without providing them with alternative profitable vending sites. Two weeks ago, VISET conducted an informal sector corruption tracking teams training workshop with Mbudzi Roundabout vendors as a response to growing concerns from vendors in particular and the citizenry in general, over the rampant corruption in the informal sector which has not only eroded the vendors meager earnings, but also robbed the Local authorities of the much needed revenue. Yesterday’s demonstration saw more than 100 vendors marching peacefully to the Council Offices at Mbudzi Roundabout where they sought audience with the local authorities.

Among the grievances they raised was the fact that the evictions, which were effected on Monday, were done without prior consultation with the vendors and will result in significant losses of incomes for the vendors. The vendors also raised concern over the rates that council are demanding which are, in their view, extortionist given the fact that they are not in tandem with the majority of the vendors’ incomes. They also argued that for as long as the Harare City Council is not investing in infrastructure that support vending, there will be no justification for the rates that Council is demanding.

Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)

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