By Chengeto Chidi
There are plans underway to solve the Mbare Mupedzanhamo area saga that has been wreaking havoc in the area for the past few days.
Harare City Council is implementing plans to create alternative spaces for vendors to trade in order to address the market space problem that has resulted in tragic violent clashes in Mbare.
Speaking in an interview today, Harare City Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende shared that they are going to establish other spaces to address the problem
“As council we are in the process of identifying sites to establish new markets so that we decongest Mbare,”he said.
The constructions are expected to be done once spaces are allocated in the areas they are contemplating
“Our small and medium enterprises recently toured prospective vending sites in Corroughbrough North, Mufakose, Glen View and Sunningdale,” he said, “the city intends to construct proper and modern structures for our people to ensure that when the rains come they will be sheltered,”
The space barons who are alleged to be from the Citizen Coalition for Change(CCC) and ZANU-PF clashed last week in Mbare over fees that are collected from the vendors at the market stalls.
The Magaba market stalls area have not been operating since last week and there has been a heavy police presence in the area and two journalists from Heart and Soul TV and Radio were assaulted and bundled into a police truck and briefly detained.
City Council has urged them to restore peace in the area.
“What is happening in Mbare is very unfortunate and we urge all parties involved to maintain peace and order, the Mupedzanhamo saga requires an al stakeholder approach, stakeholders should come together and come up with an infrastructure, social and economic plan which serves the interests of all those who are involved,” Ruwende said.
The violence that wreaked in Mbare has seen some individuals losing lives which has been confirmed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP).
It is alleged that Citizen Coalition for Change(CCC) youth members and ZANU-PF youth members were in a fight for control of the tables where they collect an amount of US$5 from every vendor.
The ZRP confirmed on their twitter handle confirmed the arrest of Robert Machira (22), Tinotenda Hwechekweche (23) and Branwell Marime (38) in connection with a murder case in which they severely assaulted Onsimo Mavhingire (34) with sticks and wooden poles at Magaba, Mbare on 07/10/22 at around 1400 hours.
ZRP shared that 13 people have been arrested in connection with violent clashes which occurred at Mupedzanhamo flea market on 10/10/22 at around 1000 hours.
These market stalls were demolished in June 2022 after Harare Metropolitan Provincial Coordinator Tafadzwa Muguti issued an ultimatum to informal traders to vacate, destroy and remove any infrastructure erected on road servitude.
Just like the 2021 demolitions, these recent demolitions do not sit well with the disgruntled residents who see the market stalls as workplaces to generate income since the Mupedzanhamo stalls were closed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
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