Chitungwiza Municipality has warned informal traders against resuming activities at undesignated places after the High Court ordered the local authority to stop the demolition of illegal vending structures.

In a statement, Chitungwiza acting town clerk Dr Tonderai Kasu said the interim relief granted to the vendors did not permit them to continue the illegal activities, as this could promote the spread of the coronavirus. He said:

It has been noted with concern that since the issuance of the court order, some informal traders have resumed their illegal operations at undesignated places, under the brazen and mistaken impression that the court order entitles them to do so.

The order does not sanitise, condone or accept continued acts of illegality by informal traders. In fact, the order specifically prohibits them from committing further offences with respect to conducting illegal operations.

The court order to halt the demolitions of illegal vending sites was granted by High Court Judge Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa after the Trustees of the Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Kushinga Epworth Residents Association and four other applicants had filed an urgent chamber application with the court against the action.

Chitungwiza Municipality and Epworth Local Board argued that the demolition of illegal vending stalls and tuck shops was unlawful.-StateMedia