via Traders cry foul over police raids 08/11/2014
INFORMAL traders who are conducting their businesses in Bulawayo’s residential areas have accused the police of raiding their houses demanding shop and health licences.
Bulawayo, once touted as the country’s industrial hub, has seen a number of companies closing shop as Zimbabwe’s economy continues on its downward spiral.
Thousands of residents have been left with no choice but to set up small shops in their residential yards to make ends meet.
Most of them are engaging in informal activities such as shoe-repairing, tailoring, cell phone repairs and typing services in a bid to save money from high rental costs charged by estate agents in the city.
But without the licences, the informal traders say they are being subjected to frequent raids in their homes by the police whom they also accused of demanding bribes from them.
“These police raids are normally pronounced during Fridays and Saturdays. These people ask us to produce a health or shop certificate.
“How can I have a health certificate when I am self-employed and I am just doing my tailoring business at my private flat?” said Edwin Mpofu, a qualified tailor who was retrenched in 2012.
Moyo said apart from police officers from the Licence Inspectorate, officers from other police departments have also been raiding the informal traders sometimes at odd hours demanding bribes.
Brown Banda, the chairman of the Small to Medium Enterprises in the city centre, said most members from his organisation are tired of the police harassment.
“It is not that our members do not want to pay for the licences. Some of us have visited the city council several times seeking clarification over the issue but it seems the city council by-laws are silent on the modus operandi of our type of business.
“We wish that this issue can be sorted out so that we operationalise our activities. We have lost a lot of revenue in bribes,” said Banda.
The application to acquire a hawker’s licence costs $20 while the licence itself costs $120 a year.
Edward Manning, the president of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA), said his association has been inundated with reports from their members of police harassment.
“This is a very serious issue which we have taken up with both the police and council. The truth is these people are willing to obtain the licence but the council has not been able to facilitate the issuance of these licenses.
“When I was still the councillor for Ward One which covers the city centre, I raised this issue in council but up to now nothing has been done,” said Manning.
Manning said his association has already engaged the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) over the issue.
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