By Elishamai A Ziumbwa
The Bulawayo City Council has raised concern over informal traders operating in unauthorised areas warning of an immediate clampdown on illegal street vending, car washing, pushcarts, and unregulated commuter activity within the Central Business District (CBD).
In a statement, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the city has launched a sweeping operation to restore order and cleanliness.
The crackdown targets Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) including informal vendors and service providers, who are occupying streets, pavements and other undesignated spaces.
“All persons conducting unauthorised informal trading on undesignated sites in the City on the streets, pavements, roadways washing cars, repairing vehicles, commuter omnibuses and buses, deliveries on the streets, pushcarts and operators of heavy commercial vehicles in the CBD are requested to cease the illegal activities forthwith,” Dube said.
The notice comes amid growing public concern over congestion, litter, and rising tension between vendors and law enforcement officers.
City officials said designated trading zones are available at Egodini Informal Trading Site and Bhaktas, among others in suburban areas and that prospective traders are encouraged to register with the city’s Dugmore Informal Trading offices for proper allocation.
Dube said the move is legally backed by Statutory Instrument 220 of 2023, which explicitly prohibits pushcarts within specific CBD boundaries—3rd Avenue, Lobengula Street, 12th Avenue, and Robert Mugabe Road.
Any breach of this regulation will result in a Level 1 fine and impounding of goods.
“We urge all parties to cooperate with the authorities and operate from designated sites,” Dube added.
