By Own Correspondent| Vendors here have called on government to open industries and fulfil on election promises of job creation adding that this is the only effective way of permanently removing them off the streets.

Vendors who spoke to ZimEye said until government created jobs, they had no option but to continue vending as a survival strategy.

Said one woman only identified as Gladys along Cameroon street:

“Where will we go? There are no jobs but we need to survive. If they are to remove us by force, you will witness the same scenario where we will be selling our wares at night.”

Added another vendor identified as Mai Matandi:

“Job creation is the permanent solution to vending. Right now who can afford to sit at home when the stomach needs to eat?”

Added Gift Dube who sells his wares along Bank street, “My presence here is not by choice. The current environment is forcing me to be on the streets despite being someone who is educated and are in possession of a degree in sociology.”

Health and Child Care minister Obediah Moyo (Thursday) suggested that vendors must be removed from Harare’s streets in a move aimed at containing the further spread of cholera, which has so far killed 25 people since its outbreak on September 6 2018.

Said Moyo in a statement

“We are working with partners to ensure that we contain the spread of the virus especially in areas which have been deemed cholera zones including Harare CBD.

We will be working with partners such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police to effect compliance. We believe that vendors should be selling their wares at designated sites in order to avoid the further spread of the disease.”