SECURITY forces and the municipal police will continue to
pounce on vendors operating illegally and the operation must not be viewed as a
crackdown, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi has said.
This comes after outcries from vendors who believe they
were being targeted for harassment by security agencies. Some have claimed
council officials were demanding bribes so as to let them operate.
However, Nyathi yesterday told the Daily News that vendors
were expected to operate within the confines of the law to avoid friction with
law enforcement agencies.
“It was made clear by the government that for vendors to
operate during this national lockdown period they should be registered and have
permits authorising them to conduct business lawfully. Some have a tendency to blame the police on
everything, even those operating outside the confines of the law.
“The law is clear that they should be licensed and our duty
is to enforce the law. Our message is clear, people should operate lawfully and
they will not have any problems with law enforcement officers,” Nyathi told the
Daily News.
City of Harare
principal communications officer Michael Chideme said people should not
construe their normal policing duties with a crackdown.
“These are normal council policing duties and they should
not be confused as a crackdown. When vendors flood shopping centres people
complain that the council has neglected its policing duties and when we execute
our duties, they complain again,” said Chideme.
He added that council was open to receive and act on any
bribery allegations as raised by some vendors.
“We urge people to bring forward their complaints regarding
those allegations. Our position is clear, zero tolerance to corruption” Chideme
added. Daily News
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