The Government has introduced new operating hours for vending activities across Zimbabwe, limiting vending in central business districts (CBDs) to between 6am and 6pm, while allowing vending in residential communities from 6am to 8pm.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare today, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti said the new operating hours would apply across all 92 local authorities.
“Vending within all central business districts is now limited between 6 a.m to 6 p.m,” Eng Muguti said.
Under the new arrangements, vendors operating in residential communities will be required to stop trading at 8pm. The restriction also applies to high-density suburbs, while vending in business districts will not be permitted after 6pm.
“After 6 p.m. we do not expect to see anyone doing vending within any business district, and after 8 p.m. we do not expect to see any vending within residential communities; that includes high-density suburbs,” he said.
Muguti said the vending hours were also linked to the operating hours stipulated in business permits.
“So that is in line also with business permits, be it shops which are operating or anything which is going across, I think the business permits end at 8 p.m.,” he said.
He said trading beyond the prescribed hours would not be permitted unless otherwise provided for in a business licence.
“Unless your business license says otherwise, according to this, any vending places or anyone who’s doing any trading, after 6 p.m. we do not want to see any of those who have been allowed to do vending within designated places,” Muguti said.
The ministry is also reviewing local authority bylaws, with 113 bylaws currently undergoing amendments.
Muguti said the changes were aimed at aligning the bylaws with the Government’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
“We have 113 bylaws that are being modified currently to suit with the trajectory of Vision 2030 and we are working day and night as a ministry led by the Honourable Minister to ensure that we have done that,” he said.
The ministry is also preparing to roll out the National Cleanup Campaign in neighbourhoods across the country.
Muguti said the programme would soon extend to local communities as Government steps up efforts to improve cleanliness and order across the country.
The new vending hours will be implemented across all 92 local authorities as the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works continues with the modification of 113 bylaws and prepares for the nationwide rollout of the National Cleanup Campaign.