The youths claimed that the $2 daily license fee was too much and petitioned the municipality to reduce it by 50%. “Vendors who are paying the fees are no longer getting customers as a lot of illegal vendors have flooded the city,” said Rogers Gono, a Youth Forum volunteer.
They send a petition to the council but the city fathers have turned a deaf ear to the residents’ concerns, thereby forcing them into the streets. “We had no alternative as no measures have been put in place to address our grievances,” said Evelyn Manditsera.
Since last week vendors have not been paying vending licenses as no council official came to collect them. The Masvingo Urban legislator, Daniel Shumba, has attacked Masvingo City Council over chaotic situation at Garikai Flea Market known as Chitima Market.
He accused council of ignoring vendors who were genuinely pleading for the slashing of daily tax charged by the local authority. Addressing vendors at Chitima Market, Shumba supported the idea of Masvingo Residents Trust and its members for reduction of daily taxes.
“The council never took the youth, vendors seriously. They totally ignored their demands,” said Shumba.
Post published in: Economy