A NUMBER of Bulawayo flea market operators say their businesses face closure owing to unfair competition from illegal vendors selling second-hand clothes.
The flea market traders alleged that they have to contend with high rentals and are forced to pay tax, with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) breathing down their necks as opposed to the illegal vendors who have free rein.
Unity Village Flea Market spokesperson Siphokuhle Sibanda pleaded with the local authority to raid vendors and force them to pay vending fees to ensure fair competition.
“Business has gone down drastically due to unlawful and unfair competition from vendors who are not paying any tax and are selling the same products at very low prices,” Sibanda said.
“The situation has been made worse due to the ongoing Zimra crackdown against our businesses.
“Bulawayo City Council must act on the traders who are selling second-hand clothes without licences.”
The majority of the illegal vendors selling second-hand clothes are operating around Fifth Avenue in the city.
Vendors aligned to the ruling Zanu PF party and coalesced around the Vendors 4ED grouping control a section of the informal market.
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Bulawayo municipal police has been engaging in running battles with the vendors in a bid to remove them without success as they always pull the political card.
Area councillor Josiah Mutangi (Zanu PF), however, defended the vendors operating along Fifth Avenue.
“They pay rent amounting to US$11,50 per month to council,” Mutangi said.
“The difference is that those operating at flea markets are paying more in rental charges and are small and medium entrepreneurs with their own management.”
He advised the flea market operators to negotiate with council to reduce rentals.
Commentator Effie Ncube said there was need for dialogue between council, flea market traders and the illegal vendors to prevent a violent confrontation.
Mayor David Coltart said council would ensure all vendors operating in the city were doing so legally.
“We are aware that there are many unauthorised vendors, some of whom do not even come from Bulawayo,” he said.
“We are now in the process of preparing a new SME [small and medium enterprise] policy and legal framework to deal with that.”
