The Plight of Vendors in Bulawayo

Walking the streets of Bulawayo, one cannot but notice the hive of activity all around as city-vendors go about their daily business. Go to Egodini Bus Terminus and you will know what I am talking about! One is pushing a cart full of bananas, the other is carrying a box full of ripe-red apples.

We cannnot but notice these men and women who have decided to stand up and do something to help their families move forward, because they are, too me, some of the most deligent people we have in our populas. Nowadays the goods which are on the market are maize, exercise books and fruits like mangoes and plums.

One wonders what time they came into town? Who they stay with at home? How much money they make and whether the money is enough for them to sustain their families. Of interest is that all these traders are illegal, though they have occupied their spots until the general public regards them as legal; evidenced by how people generally tend to be angry at the police when they confiscate the vendors goods.

I spoke to a local police man and this is what he said concerning them, "These vendors are illegal and they are not allowed by the city's by-laws to trade their goods at this spot. What they are supposed to do is go to the City Council offices and get licences to operate, but they would also need to search for legal vending spots."

What really drives these mena and women to risk and break the law? You guessed right - MONEY. With the Zimbabwean economy still picking itself up, these vendors find it better for them to operate here and get a bit of money to get their families going.

"When goods are confiscated, they become the state's property and we here in Bulawayo we sell these goods at the Licence Inspectorate offices at Drill Hall and the offenders pay a fine of US$5.00", said the policeman.