By Itai Muzondo/ Upenyu Chaota
Masvingo Urban legislator Dr Daniel Shumba has attacked Masvingo City Council (MCC) over chaotic situation at Garikai Flea market popularly known as Chitima due to its location which is adjacent to railway line.
Shumba said the council was ignoring vendors who are ‘genuinely pleading the slashing of daily tax which the pay to the local authority’.
Currently vendors are charged $2 to run a stall on daily basis but they are requesting the council to reduce the amount to $1.
“This MDC council is anti- development. I know they want to turn this city into an ungovernable community. We are going to stop them. I am sure the MDC guys will enjoy seeing Masvingo in shambles but we will swiftly chip in to immediately stop the rot,” said Shumba.
If the council fails to reduce the tax, Shumba said he will assist vendors by paying part of the money.
Masvingo Urban MP Daniel Shumba
“I have since informed the council that I can pay half of the money instead of them continuing with milking residents who are not making huge profits at Chitima,’’ added Shumba.
However, Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze rubbished Shumba’s attack saying the issue was none political. Fidze said his council was professionally run. He however, said it was impossible to reduce the tax overnight since there were many other factors which needed to be considered.
“We had a meeting today (yesterday) and we agreed that we are not going to reduce revenue collected from the market. Shumba has never approached the council and we are not aware of his intention,’’ said Fidze.
Early this week, the police arrested six Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) members who were part of vendors who protested against paying $2 on daily basis. Prosper Tiringindi, Godfrey Mudhumo, Mapfumo Mativenga, Tarwirei Chisikandieyi, Richard Mapedza and Jesina Gwabvira spent the whole day on Monday in the police cells at Masvingo Central police station and they were released upon paying $10 fine each.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa together with Zanu PF provincial leadership addressed vendors on Monday afternoon and assured them that they were going to pay US$ 1 but the council officials laughed at their decision saying it was not proper for Zanu PF members to make such crucial decisions at a rally.
Mayor Hubert Fidze
Meanwhile, Director of National Vendors Union in Zimbabwe Samuel Wadzai condemned the chaos which saw MRT members being arrested. He also condemned in strongest terms the unleashing of riot police on vendors. He said it was gross human rights abuse for the police to harass and arrest vendors who were peacefully expressing their views.
“We condemn the police for interfering with council business. As a union, we still feel that the council should reduce the tax to R5. Where can a vendor get $2 to pay on daily basis? There might be infrastructure development but that should not invite exorbitant tariffs,” said Wadzai.local
