By Staff Writer
HARARE vendors have vowed to stay on the streets and wage war with authorities if need be in direct defiance with the seven days ultimatum for them to vacate the streets.
This follows a directive by the government last week which saw Harare City Council issuing a seven-day ultimatum to remove the vendors out of the city due to rising cholera cases.
The Health Ministry said vending was fueling cholera cases in the capital.
A state of emergency was recently declared in Harare over the cholera outbreak that has killed dozens of people, with more than 7 000 suspected cases
Vendors dismissed the government directive saying if working opportunities were available in the country, they would vacate the streets.
“We need jobs. There are no jobs in the country. Ngavatipe mabasa kuState House ikoko. Where can we go from here? Most of us are widows and single mothers fending for our kids through vending.
“We went to school.If the economy was flourishing, we would be employed somewhere. We are not happy being on these pavements. Let us join the government officials in their offices. I am sorry we cannot leave the CBD,” one vendor only identified as Varaidzo said.
Another vendor added, “We have educational certificates under our pillows but we have no jobs. They must show us the doors of companies which are employing people right now. We will go there. How do we take care of our kids?
“Council and government must work together to provide services to citizens. We have garbage all over the streets and raw sewage everywhere. Now we are being accused of fueling cholera in the city. Tell those authorities to put their houses in order because our wares are clean.”
