By Staff Reporter
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has accused some local authorities of damaging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reputation through the manner in which they are conducting demolitions targeting informal traders.
Kazembe, who is also ZANU-PF’s Mashonaland Central provincial chairman, made the remarks during a Provincial Executive Council meeting held at the weekend, where he challenged councils to adopt a more considerate approach to efforts aimed at restoring order in urban areas.
He argued that while maintaining clean towns and enforcing proper urban planning were important, authorities should not use these objectives to justify removing vendors from their trading locations without making alternative arrangements.
Speaking in Shona, Kazembe questioned the manner in which the ongoing demolitions were being conducted.
“We support the idea of a clean country, but the way it is being done, it is not clear what is going on,” he said.
He accused council officials of using the demolitions in ways that could tarnish the President’s image.
“We will not allow this to happen,” Kazembe warned.
The minister insisted that councils must first identify suitable trading spaces, consult affected vendors and put proper relocation arrangements in place before embarking on any eviction exercise.
He maintained that informal traders play an important role in sustaining household incomes and supporting economic activity within communities.
Kazembe said the Government’s vision was to ensure that people operated from appropriate and properly designated locations, but questioned the logic of evicting traders before such facilities were available.
“The programme is for people to go where it is ideal for their work. But if we have not yet built those ideal places, why should we evict them from where they are doing business right now? Where will we take them to?” he asked.
He called for a planned and humane approach to urban development, arguing that efforts to improve the appearance and organisation of towns should not leave ordinary citizens without a means of earning a living.
