FCC raids street vendors

KEABETSWE NEWEL
Correspondent | Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

One of the vendors, who identified herself as Pelotshweu Chiweru and the Secretary of the group of street vendors operating at the taxi rank, was furious and even had tears running down her cheeks.

She said that the FCC personnel did not want to listen to whatever they had to say and proceeded to destroy their shelters and loaded all their belongings into trucks.

Chiweru, whose voice was hoarse, and looked miserable. 'This all happened because a lady by the name of Miss Jaset, who is an Indian, reported to the City Council that we are next to her building thus disturbing her business,' said Chiweru.

She reasoned that these stalls, though illegally run,  is all they have to make ends meet by feeding their children and paying school fees.  She further argued insisted that the council's action was uncalled for, as they have been operating as vendors for years.

Chiweru also complained that although it has been over 10 years operating on hawkers' licenses, they have applied for vendors' licenses to no avail.

'What surprises me the most is that all these foreign vendors who found us in this country of ours have been already issued with licenses and are trading freely,' said Chiweru pointing at some of the foreign vendors relaxing in their shelters.

Another affected vendor, Evah Kadima, concured, saying it has been years since she applied for the license to trade freely.'We went to the Mayor's office and had a meeting with him but he told us that he is still considering a solution, yet we are being raided,' Kadima added.

Lesego Lubinda, the vice secretary of the vendors' group, charged the government cared less for them.

She said it did not make sense for citizens to be raided for being unlicensed whilst foreigners traded freely with recognition from the authorities.

The Mayor of Francistown, Shadreck Nyeku confirmed that the crisis began after the street vendors fought with Miss Jaset. He said the Indian woman went to the City Council to report that the vendors had broken a pipe carrying water into her building.

The Mayor said that although some of these vendors do not have licenses, the authorities are negotiating with Miss Jaset to allow them to trade next to her building. He said the situation would be stabilised.

Amongst the concerned citizens was the councillor for Monarch South and former Mayor of Francistown Ignitius Moswaane who supported the raided vendors. Moswaane told Mmegi that there was no need for a raid.Although he admitted that there was a law that allowed the FCC to raid if necessary, he said that looking at the economic situation and poverty, the vendors should be allowed to do business.

'I am against this decision by the council, with reasons that President Ian Khama said that vendors should be left to sell their goods and feed their families. As the government, we are aware of the law but we want to fight poverty,' added the former Mayor.

He however, said that he would not tolerate people who come and erect permanent structures. Moswaane said vendors have to pitch portable and mobile shelters which can be uprooted at the end of business day,  end of the day to allow the Council to clean up without obstructions.