Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)
Socio-Economic Champions (SOCHAMPs) leadership structures from Chitungwiza, Highfields and Hopley have successfully held a Vendors Grievance Consultative Indaba facilitated by the VISET secretariat today at Lusaka, Highfields. The Indaba, which was attended by 67 SOCHAMPs, is the first of the many such indabas lined up in Harare and other parts of the country which are meant to bring together SOCHAMPs from different constituencies to share issues that affect them in their respective areas. It emerged from the meeting that the vendors in these areas face common challenges and as such, there is need for collective action among them to tackle these challenges.
Among the grievances discussed was the extortionist vending rates demanded by council which ranged from 8 – 10 USD per week in these areas. There was consensus in respect of the fact that these rates are unjustified given that there is no meaningful investment on the part of council to provide the much needed infrastructural services that support vending such as water, toilets and sheds in these areas.
The meeting also discussed the rampant corruption in the vending enterprise and possible remedies. Lastly, the SOCHAMPS also expressed endemic fear of the possible introduction of the bond notes and the possible resultant erosion of their working capitals. A Committee comprising of two representatives from each of these areas and two members of the VISET secretariat was set up to engage the City Fathers, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of SMEs and other relevant solution holders on these and other grievances. The Committee was given a time limit of four weeks to complete this task after which it will communicate the results or lack thereof to the entire VISET membership.
Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)