Chitungwiza Residents Trust(CHITREST) on Demolition of Vending Stalls.

Today Chitungwiza Residents Trust field officers witnessed in awe hoards of vendors in Zengeza,Seke and St Mary’s being forced to demolish their own vending stalls by a team of Zimbabwe Republic Police and Chitungwiza Municipal Police.

The site of armed Military Police was menacing and predictably,there was no resistance from the frightened but angry vendors.This is particularly so since there has been reports of incidences of use of excessive force on citizens in recent times by the country’s security services.

Our team managed to talk to some vendors who expressed anger at the government’s failure to empathise with their plight.They said they are ordinary citizens who have been trying to etch an honest living by trading in various wares,but this insensitive act by government will make their lives miserable as they have lost their only source of income.

Chitrest calls upon Chitungwiza Municipality and Central Government to respect citizens rights.Demolishing vendors’ stalls without engaging them and proffering alternative vending sites is barbaric and grossly inhumane.As a residents organisation we will sit down and map a wayforward together with partner vendor’s associations.We are also engaging our lawyers to find legal recourse considering this is being done without a full council resolution.

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