The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), in conjunction with Harare Metropolitan Police, has issued a strict warning to street vendors operating within the Harare Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the upcoming 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The summit, themed “Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC,” is scheduled for August 17, 2024.
The aforementioned law enforcement agencies have been patrolling the city using loudspeakers to announce an impending operation dubbed “Chenesa Harare.” The operation aims to clean up the streets and ensure a clean environment for the high-level summit.
Unlicensed vendors have been ordered to vacate the streets and pavements, with threats of arrest for noncompliance.
“An upcoming operation called ‘Chenesa Harare’ will be conducted to ensure clean streets throughout the SADC Summit. Unregistered vendors will not be permitted to operate on the streets. Anyone found violating this directive will face arrest. Let’s cooperate to maintain a clean city,” ZRP warned.
Samuel Wadzai, Executive Director of the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), has strongly condemned the police action, labeling it an “illegal attack on the livelihoods of the people.” Wadzai argued that the government’s prioritization of street cleanliness over the welfare of vendors is unacceptable. He stated that the City of Harare should provide alternative trading spaces for vendors to operate legally.
“This action is deeply concerning and unjustified. It constitutes an illegal assault on people’s livelihoods. The City of Harare has a responsibility to provide alternative spaces for vendors to operate. It is unacceptable for a government to prioritize cosmetic changes to streets and pavements over the well-being of its citizens,” Wadzai stated.
