By-law officer threatens defiant street traders

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Monday May 14, 2012 00:00

He complained that vendors have a tendency of setting up shop anywhere they like in the bus rank without permits.  He advised that they should operate along the railway line, as pavements were made for the easy movement of people. He warned that law breakers will be fined a minimum of P300 or three months in prison.

'The umbrellas that are used here pollute the environment. I encourage you to buy smart umbrellas like Mascom's, which are moveable and easy to mount and dismount,' he said. He added that they must use umbrellas that they can tie around electricity poles and signposts when they knock off.

He condemned Batswana vendors who give Zimbabweans their hawker's permits to operate on their behalf.  He cautioned that the permits are not supposed to be shared. 'You are not allowed to operate many kiosks using one permit. If found doing that you will be charged. We are going to be very strict because we have realised that people do not obey these rules,' he said. He said vendors also throw litter everywhere thus leaving the bus rank dirty. 'The bus rank is where every visitor is welcomed and if it is unsightly, they will think that the whole town is dirty. So I urge you to clean this place,' he said.  For their part, street vendors complained that the council refuses to give them permits.

Margaret Radikgobana, a street vendor, said there are many foreigners in the bus rank who have permits while it is difficult for them as Batswana to be given such. 'I wonder where they obtain such permits because I understand that they are only for Batswana. We are struggling to make a living for ourselves as Batswana but foreigners enjoy benefits that are meant for us. Can you please address this issue?' asked Radikgobana.

She related that many have for years been told that there is no space in the bus rank while others are given permits on the spot without delay. 'We will clean the bus rank everyday. What we are asking is for you to allow us to operate our kiosks in the bus rank where there are customers. We are not stealing from anybody but selling goods to make a living. It is better than staying home,' said Radikgobana.

Kemiso Masingwana, also a street vendor, cried that there are no customers outside the bus rank. 'We are here because there are more people at the bus rank. We have been told to operate at low-income areas but there is no business there. That is why we came to the bus rank,' she said.

She argued that regulations contained in the by-law code were outdated and should be reviewed.'Life is more difficult these days than back in the 1960s. The government encourages us to open our own businesses but with outdated laws, it is hard for our ideas to become reality,' she said.