By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga says the local authority will implement government directives to restore order in the city, including removing vendors operating from undesignated areas.
Speaking during a City of Kwekwe stakeholders meeting on the national clean-up campaign, restoration of order and safety, Cllr Zinhanga said the council would comply with government directives despite concerns that the measures could affect some informal traders.
He said the council, as the lower tier of government, had an obligation to implement decisions taken by central government.
“We are going to restore order in the City of Kwekwe and I, as the mayor, like what the ministry and the permanent secretary said, we will lead in front to restore order,” Cllr Zinhanga said.
“We are not going to allow ourselves to be people who are against what the government is saying. We are the lower tier of government and we are going to follow what the government says.”
Cllr Zinhanga acknowledged that the measures could be unpopular but said the stakeholders’ meeting was intended to provide an opportunity for affected parties to raise their concerns and contribute to possible solutions.
He said vendors operating at Messina, Pick n Pay, OK and Spar areas would be expected to move to designated trading sites.
“At Messina, it’s going to be a thing of the past. We will clear it and people would be asked to go to the designated areas,” he said.
“At TM, at OK, at Spar, let’s start packing our bags and go to designated sites. Those without allocated stalls, let’s do the right thing, approach the right offices and be allocated market stalls.”
The mayor said the council would consider alternative measures if the designated sites could not accommodate all affected vendors.
“If all the vendors are not accommodated, we will go for Plan B. But for now, I am saying we have designated sites. Go to designated sites,” he said.
Cllr Zinhanga said the council would engage stakeholders before implementation, stressing that the objective of the meeting was to find practical solutions for the city.
“For now we are here, we are going to be listening to every discussion. Let’s be open to each other and speak our minds out so that at the end of the day, we will have solutions,” he said.
“It’s not about the mayor or town clerk or DDC. Let’s talk.”
The meeting comes amid government efforts to enforce cleanliness, safety and orderly use of public spaces under the national clean-up and restoration-of-order programme.
