via WOZA urges Mayor to stand up for right to trade The Zimbabwean 24 June 2015
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) today submitted a letter to the Executive Mayor of Bulawayo Councillor Martin Moyo, calling on him to stand with the people of Bulawayo trying to eke out a living by informal trade. The majority of WOZA members are involved in informal trading.
WOZA members urged him to be courageous and defend the Constitutional right to earn a living.
WOZA made recommendations as to what issues the Executive Mayor should address as part of a collect Council and Civic Society initiative and ignore the ultimatum from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for vendors to vacate the pavements and streets by 26 June 2015.
The open letter reads, “Executive Mayor we will stand by you if you stand by us. Let’s us find sustainable livelihood’s in a dignified manner befitting Zimbabweans. Don’t be a part of another ‘moment of madness’. We will not be moved from our streets until there is a comprehensive plan in place.”
COMMENTS
“….people of Bulawayo trying to eke out a living by informal trade …..” to what end, if one may ask! Is there an end in sight? WOZA should be demanding the 2 million jobs that people were promised. The real issue with the vendors is that they have contributed, to a large extent, to filth in the city. If they organized themselves and took turns to clean up the surrounding areas where they are selling their wares, then they would get sympathy from people. However, the manner in which the city has been turned into a mass garbage dump is an infringement of other city dwellers’ rights. It is a health hazard which cannot be contained in an event of some outbreak of disease, considering the pathetic state of our hospitals. So WOZA’s appeal to the Mayor while seemingly legitimate, fails to address the fundamental problem. Bulawayo was a booming industrial city and it takes political will to rescucitate its industries, I am not sure if the Mayor is the right person to address. If only 10 of some of the large industries could open and be fully functional, the “complexion” of this city would change overnight.