BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL TEMPORARILY CLOSES PORTION OF 5TH AVENUE FOR INFORMAL TRADERS
The City of Bulawayo has announced the temporary closure of a portion of 5th Avenue for the establishment of a new vending site to accommodate 500 informal trading bays, in a move to enhance local economic development and provide accessible and affordable working spaces for traders.
Bulawayo Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, highlighted the need to strike a balance amongst multiple functionalities such as parking, informal trading, vehicular traffic movement, and access to property-by-property owners.
“We expect all traders on 5th Avenue to vacate the road to allow the implementation of the Council resolution,” stated Dube. “The execution of the resolution will entail cleaning of the area, demarcation of bays, construction of safe working spaces, and allocation of vending bays in the usual manner.”
5th Avenue Closure
According to Dube the decision to close a portion of 5th Avenue was made at a council meeting on 7th February 2024. The closure will comply with the Roads Act Chapter 13:13 Part VI Section 33 and will see the road now having two riding lanes and vending bays for the 500 informal traders.
Furthermore, the temporary closure will be complemented by the establishment of a new vending site for clothing and fruits along Lobengula Street between 2 Avenue terminus and the municipal Roads Yard.
The SME Advisory Council member for Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Bulawayo, Dumisani Ncube, explained that the move was necessary to improve the management of the informal sector in the city.
The announcement was made during a meeting organised by the Bulawayo Informal Sector Working Group (BISWG), with Ncube as the main speaker on 8 February at Large City Hall.
Relocating the Informal Traders
Ncube stated, “The decision to relocate informal traders from 5th Avenue is part of a broader strategy to address the various challenges faced by the informal economy. We are committed to creating a more conducive trading environment for all stakeholders.”
He also said that the move aims to tackle issues such as congestion, space hoarding, politicisation of trading, corruption, drug and illicit substance selling, littering, and misuse of sanitary lanes.
During the meeting, it was disclosed that the informal traders currently operating at 5th Avenue will be relocated to a new site along Lobengula Street. The remaining trading spaces at 5th Avenue will be marked and reallocated to those who occupied them before the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures will also be put in place to improve licensing, waste management, and to curb the influence of space barons who exploit informal traders.
Vendors Registration Requirements
The BCC also announced that informal traders who wish to register for vending in the City of Bulawayo are required to submit a copy of their identity document, processed fingerprint forms, proof of residence in Bulawayo, two passport size photos, and the requisite fees for the licence. Traders dealing in fruits and vegetables will also need to undergo pre-examination for contagious diseases and receive lessons on food handling from the City of Bulawayo Health Services Department.
The City of Bulawayo has assured that all communication relating to the vendors reorganization will be formally communicated using authorized channels.
The temporary closure of a portion of 5th Avenue marks a significant step towards creating a conducive environment for informal traders in Bulawayo, providing them with the necessary infrastructure to support their businesses and contribute to the local economy.
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