Chitungwiza Mayor statement:

Council has noted with great concern an outcry caused by a press statement issued yesterday (June 1, 2021) by the Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Evangelista Machona warning residents against operating businesses along Council and State Roads servitudes in Chitungwiza.

As Council, we believe in the sanctity of human life as is enshrined in our National Constitution and the Holy Bible.

It was not the intention of Council to cause alarm and despondency through the press statement.

Council is alive to the plight of residents surviving on informal trade and small-to-medium scale enterprises who need safe working stations.

In that regard Council will always strive to provide informal traders safe working spaces that do not expose them to danger.

Your attention is also drawn to the fact that Council does not operate in isolation, but works in conjunction with other Government departments.

State-roads fall under central Government through the Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.

Council is not anti-people, but always seeks to engage informal traders to identify safe spaces for them to conduct their businesses.

Residents should be assured that it is not the intention of Council to disturb the means of survival of informal traders.

Therefore Council shall continue on a path of engagement and consultation with stakeholders on all matters of mutual interest.

Our view is that the informal sector must be organized while Council is supposed to be an enabler creating a conducive environment for those in the informal sector.