A queue forms quickly as hungry customers are served before dispersing to various places to eat their food, seemingly unbothered about the stinking smell of urine and uncollected garbage lying close to the car.
“Are you are a newcomer here? The food is nice, especially sadza and fish,” one of the customers remarks as he squeezes his way into the queue to grab a plate. A stone’s throw away a woman is selling plastic boxes of sadza and relish. Mobbed by a crowd of customers, she serves with one eye monitoring the ever-patrolling municipal and ZRP officers.
Poverty has forced most city dwellers to frequent open space food vending. Most of the women involved in this business say they do not have money to operate or rent proper food outlets in town.
“Of course we would like to rent proper facilities where we operate legally, but we have no money and so we have to do it our own way,” said one of the vendors. She and her colleagues appear ignorant of the deadly cholera and typhoid that continue to threaten the city. But one vendor, who requested anonymity, said she was well aware of the health hazards associated with selling food in the open – but had no option.
“I make sure that I encourage my customers to wash hands. I even carry water containers for them to use,” she added.
Elizabeth Sibanda, a resident of the Avenues, accused the City of Harare of not taking stern action against people who breach the bye-laws.
Another resident, Vyrante Mahlupeko, said the increase in the number of illegal traders was indicative of shrinking employment opportunities, a trend that he said was forcing people to seize any opportunity to augment their income.
Chairperson of the Harare Environmental Management Committee, Councillor Stewart Mutizwa, said the city council would soon introduce blitzes to restore order.
“We do not approve any selling of food in the open,” Mutizwa said. A few months ago, the council circulated a stern warning that it was illegal to trade without a valid licence and issued an ultimatum for the operators to regularise their licences.
Vending has become a menace as vendors have invaded all pavements with various merchandise including vegetables, mobile phone covers, textbooks and many other items. Frequent raids by council police has seen some of the vendors opting to sell their varied wares under cover of darkness when the police are off duty.
Post published in: News