The Zimbabwe Informal sector Organization, ZISO, has filed an urgent High court application challenging the government’s ultimatum to flash out vendors from  the  Central Business Districts of all towns  throughout  the country.
Government early last week  issued a 7 day ultimatum vendors to move from the central business district (CBD) but on Friday following heavy criticism from various sectors of the economy they pushed the deadline to June 26.
They also said if vendors resist the directive Soldiers were going to be deployed and move them.
Chris Mhike of Artherstone and Cook law firm representing ZISO at the weekend  filed an urgent application with the High court challenging government’s intention to flash out vendors.
Mhike said the directive and the ultimatum are both unconstitutional hence the court challenge.
“We filed the application stating that the security should not be involved in the process which we also say should be given enough time that given by government.
“We have not   been given the hearing g date yet because we are yet to serve other parties with the application,” said Mhike adding that ,“We  have managed to  serve the Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni who is the third respondent. The first respondent Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and the Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi the second respondent have not been served with the papers, but the High Court is now aware that there is a case which needs to   be heard”.
Human rights organizations have raised concern on the involvement of state security agents in dealing with informal traders whom they said are innocent civilians.
Harare City council last week established an informal sector committee which it tasked with regularizing vending in Harare.