2018: Zanu PF takes campaign to vendors

Vendors in Harare have resorted to selling their wares during the night as a way of avoiding clashes with the municipal police during the day.

The local authority accuses vendors of causing confusion in the central business district through occupying undesignated areas. But vendors on the other hand are blaming council for failing to provide them with enough space for selling their wares.

According to National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe, an NGO representing vendors, there are more than 10 000 informal traders in Harare alone.

A group of Zanu PF officials was on Monday in Harare, seen moving around the city where they were addressing vendors.

“We know that you are busy and most of the time you are here selling your wares and might not have time to come for rallies and meetings which we usually hold in various areas during the day and weekends,” said an unidentified male adult wearing Zanu PF regalia, speaking through a Public Address System at Copacabana market. The man, who was adressing vendors, was flanked by Indigenisation Minister Patrick Zhuwao’s son, Jason.

The Zanu PF official, who introduced himself as a member of the party’s Harare provincial structures, said they wanted to form committees which would help inform vendors about this initiative.

“We are also forming structures from cell level and we will be engaging you at your workplace,” he said.

“We have also been told to tell you that our Presidential candidate for the 2018 elections which are just but around the corner is President Robert Mugabe and we should all campaign for him,” he said while chanting Zanu PF slogans.