ZANU PF linked space barons have illegally occupied parking spaces along George Silundika Street in Bulawayo central business district and are allegedly allocating vending stands to informal traders.
Those allocated bays were seen last week erecting vending structures directly on top of road markings, turning parking space into informal trading bays.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the operation was politically driven, with vendors believed to be aligned to the ruling party claiming authority to allocate the spaces.
In an interview with Southern Eye on Sunday, Bulawayo mayor David Coltart confirmed that the city council (BCC) was aware of the developments and expressed concern over the nature of the encroachments.
“We are aware of these developments and they have been discussed extensively within BCC,” Coltart said.
“There is undoubtedly a political element driving the illegal allocation of stands.”
The mayor added that the council had startd engaging with relevant authorities in an effort to bring the matter under control.
“We are actively speaking to the Provincial Minister and the local Joint Operations Command (Joc) requesting their cooperation in dealing with this exceptionally worrying development,” he said.
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Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Jabulani Sibanda, could not be reached for comment.
This is not the first time vending spaces in Bulawayo’s CBD have been hijacked under unclear circumstances.
A similar situation occurred along 5th Avenue where stalls were allegedly taken over by politically connected individuals, prompting outrage from local authorities and residents.
The Zanu PF space barons have continued pocketing vending fees from the illegal vendors occupying 5th Avenue.
Council early this year issued a directive earlier this year ordering informal traders to vacate undesignated areas within the city centre.
However, illegal vending has persisted.
It is said the illegal takeover of vending bays, now being linked to politically aligned “space barons,’ is not only undermining city planning efforts, but also depriving the municipality of much-needed revenue.
Ironically, even after council’s deadline for informal vendors to move out of the CBD, some continue to operate in defiance of the directive, raising questions about the enforcement of city by-laws and the influence of political protection.
The city has in recent months tried to enforce order by relocating vendors to designated areas such as Egodini and Bhaktas Mall.
However, these efforts have faced pushback, particularly when vendors claim political cover or affiliation.
Coltart has previously called for clean-up efforts to be conducted “humanely,” acknowledging the economic challenges facing informal traders.
But the continued illegal occupation of strategic urban spaces has left city authorities facing mounting pressure to act.
