Cllrs Agitate For Law Against Dodgy Vendors
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday June 19, 2017 16:30
It has become fashionable to spot street vendors who fake that they sell commodities like sweets and airtime, but rather have a hidden agenda of distributing drugs, especially marijuana to people.
Kanana ward councillor, Cornelius Gopolang raised a concern in an interview with Business Monitor that most of the unlicensed street vendors have a tendency of selling drugs under the pretext of selling different commodities.
“Most of the streets vendors in different locations who sell marijuana operate without licences and have become the main distributors of drugs in the city,” he said.
He added that bye-law officers should monitor the street vendors and ensure that everyone has a trading licence.
He further said they should introduce an Act, which will check the criminal records of individuals before issuing a trading licence.
“Every street vendor should have a police clearance before they can start operating their business. Their records should be computerised so that local authorities can easily access the information. The process will assist in identifying the culprits so that they can be denied trading permits,” he said.
He said most of the street vendors display sweets and airtime on their tables and hide the drugs for special orders. He said some of the street vendors in different communities operate until midnight unlike the ones located in the Central Business District (CBD). He added that the CBD street vendors close their business at six in the evening.
“Trading time should apply to all and those who exceed the designated time should have their street vendor licences revoked,” he said.
Gopolang said the multitudes of street vendors run their businesses lawlessly because the rules are not strict. He further said the street vendors who do not abide by the law should be given severe penalties.
Gopolang indicated that the under-privileged and unemployed individuals should be given top priority when issuing trading licences.
Monarch north councillor Godfrey Kaelo shared the same sentiments with Gopolang. Kaelo said the majority of street vendors in different communities are trading under false pretences of selling fast foods, but instead use their business to trade in weed, as marijuana is some times colloquially known. He indicated that the rate of the street vendors who sell marijuana is alarming.
“To make matters worse, these street vendors are irresponsible parents who normally distribute the drugs, especially weed to students,” he said.
Monarch North ward councillor said the law should be harsh to the wrongdoers and if they violate it, their licences should be terminated.
He noted that street vendors should undertake police clearance before trading licences are issued to them. He pleaded with parents to take care of their children and fight against drug abuse.
Kaelo also complained about street vendors who sell their trading licences to foreigners.
“If they don’t want the street vendor licence, why don’t they cancel it so that it can be awarded to someone in need of it?” he asked.
Kaelo said such behaviour leads to more foreigners, especially Zimbabweans to flock the city.