By Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Harare, Zimbabwe (News Of The South) – The presence of vendors in Harare`s CBD is an eyesore and comes with its challenges of congesting the pavements and increased amount of litter in the CBD of a capital city. This problem was left unattended by the incompetent Harare city council who currently do not have a plan and resort to beating up vendors and confiscating their goods thus creating more problems. To resolve this problem requires a careful and well thought out approach. This problem of vendors lining up the streets goes as far as the high street which is First street. In first street it is now even common to see peoples blankets hung out to dry as people literally live on the streets. In order to resolve this crisis its important to structure vendor locations and manage street vending, this has to be a gradual process with the end goal of removing at least 70 percent of the vendors from street pavements. The reason why it should be a well planned and phased approach is because consideration has be to taken about the livelihoods of a suffering and battered economy where more that 70 percent of the population are unemployed.
1. Introduction
Problem Statement: Harare’s CBD faces challenges due to a high volume of street vendors, leading to:
Congestion and obstruction of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Sanitation and waste management issues.
Unregulated business practices.
A perception of disorder and potential security concerns. Health hazard and disease outbreak is another serious consequence
Objectives:
Create a more organized and functional CBD.
Provide designated and suitable spaces for vendors to operate.
Improve sanitation and waste management.
Promote a more regulated and fair trading environment.
Enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the city.
2. Guiding Principles
Inclusivity: Recognise the importance of street vending as a source of livelihood for many citizens.
Sustainability: Develop long-term solutions that are economically viable and environmentally sound.
Participation: Engage with vendors, city authorities, businesses, and residents in the planning and implementation process.
Gradual Implementation: Implement changes in phases, allowing vendors time to adapt.
Fairness and Transparency: Ensure that the allocation of vendor spaces is equitable and transparent.
3. Proposed Strategies
3.1 Vendor Registration and Licensing:
Conduct a comprehensive registration of all street vendors in the CBD.
Issue licenses to vendors who meet specific criteria (e.g., hygiene standards, product restrictions).
Implement a fee structure for licenses and stall rentals (considering affordability).
3.2 Designation of Vending Zones:
Identify suitable locations within and around the CBD for designated vending zones.
These zones should be:
Accessible to customers.
Equipped with basic infrastructure (e.g., water, sanitation, waste disposal).
Organized to minimize congestion.
Examples of potential zones:
Conversion of underutilized spaces or parking lots into organized markets.
Designated streets or sections of streets for specific types of vendors (e.g., food vendors, craft vendors).
Creation of “vendor malls” or multi-purpose trading centres.
3.3 Infrastructure Development:
Develop or upgrade infrastructure in designated vending zones, including:
Stalls or kiosks for vendors.
Waste collection facilities.
Public toilets.
Lighting.
Security measures.
3.4 Relocation and Phased Implementation:
Relocate vendors from undesignated areas to the designated vending zones in a phased approach.
Provide support and assistance to vendors during the relocation process (e.g., transportation, information).
Prioritize the relocation of vendors causing the most significant obstructions or sanitation issues.
3.5 Enforcement and Monitoring:
Enforce regulations regarding street vending in undesignated areas.
Establish a monitoring system to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain order in vending zones.
Use a combination of:
City council officials.
Community policing.
Vendor associations.
3.6 Capacity Building and Support:
Provide training and support to vendors on:
Business management.
Hygiene and sanitation.
Financial literacy.
Facilitate access to microfinance and other support services.
4. Stakeholder Engagement
Establish a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the implementation of the plan.
This committee should include representatives from:
City council.
Vendor associations.
Business community.
Residents.
Members of the Harare Mbari clan who are the land owners of Harare
Relevant government ministries.
Conduct regular consultations with stakeholders to ensure their input and address concerns.
5. Implementation Plan
Develop a detailed implementation plan with timelines, responsibilities, and budget allocations.
Prioritize actions based on their urgency and impact.
Monitor progress regularly and make adjustments as needed.
6. Evaluation and Review
Conduct regular evaluations of the plan’s effectiveness.
Collect data on key indicators, such as:
Number of vendors relocated.
Level of congestion in the CBD.
Sanitation and waste management improvements.
Vendor income and satisfaction.
Use the evaluation results to inform future planning and decision-making.
Key Considerations for Harare:
Economic Context: Recognize the economic challenges faced by many vendors and ensure that any fees or regulations are reasonable and do not create further hardship.
Social Sensitivity: Address potential social issues related to relocation, such as displacement and loss of income, with empathy and support.
Political Will: Strong political will and commitment are essential for the successful implementation of this plan.
Resource Mobilization: Secure adequate funding and resources to support the development of infrastructure and the implementation of the plan.
This document provides a framework for structuring vendor locations in Harare’s CBD. It’s crucial to adapt and refine it based on the specific context and through ongoing engagement with all stakeholders. It is important to be reasonable and respectful to all involved during the process. A helpful idea would be to create a CBD vendors Association so as to create meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders involved and this can help to resolve the problem. Creation of storage facilities can also help to reduce the much talked about congestion as vendors would not need to drive their cars to drop off their goods onto the pavements.
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