BULAWAYO street vendors yesterday accused Zanu PF of force-marching them to the Independence Day celebrations held at Barbourfields Stadium.
When NewsDay visited 5th Avenue, vendors along that street
confirmed the developments.
“At around 7-8am buses with Zanu PF people came and forced
all the vendors to board the buses and go to the stadium. Some, because of
fear, boarded the buses,” a vendor said.
“We had to close our wares with plastics so that they could
not get wet or stolen. Some vendors quickly rushed back home fearing the Zanu
PF members would come back.”
StreetWise Informal Traders Association director Percy
Mcijo said politicians should stop abusing people.
“It is a sad situation to have vendors forced to attend
Independence Day celebrations. The problem is that the marketplace where those
vendors are sited is illegal and Zanu PF placed them there. The Bulawayo City
Council denied vendors access to that area, but it was Zanu PF that placed them
illegally. Whatever the reasons, they should stop abusing people,” Mcijo said.
He said it was unfortunate that the ruling party was taking
advantage of people due to the poverty prevailing in the country.
“People are doing illegal things every time not because
they want to, but because of the situation in the country. Government should
improve the situation in the country so that people do not suffer like this,”
he added.
It has become norm that people are bussed by political
parties to attend political events.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa was not
reachable for comment on his mobile yesterday.
This was the first time since Independence in 1980 that the
celebrations were held in Bulawayo. Newsday
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