…registers kombis and Mushikashika
Beatific Gumbwanda
Chiredzi Town Council recently took decisive actions to address the issue of illegal vendors on the streets, by adopting the escalation of penalties from US$2 to US$5 to discouraging illegal vendors operating from undesignated areas.
Additionally, the council proposed the implementation of electronic boom gates at bus termini, which serves a dual purpose: to curb corruption by preventing cashiers from accepting bribes and to facilitate the registration of all kombis and pirate taxis operating in Chiredzi.
These steps are designed not only to restore order but also to enhance the local authority’s revenue streams.
Giving her presentation during the second ordinary full council meeting, Audit Committee Chairperson, Sekai Njanjure said all buses that use the two terminuses were not being recorded hence the need to introduce electronic boom gates to account for all the buses that come in and out.
“The ranks are holding many buses than those that are paying to the local authority hence we need to introduce electronic boom gates to monitor cash flows as well as reduce corruption by council cashiers,” said Njanjure.
Finance and General-Purpose Committee Chairperson Vimbai Ushe, also highlighted the need to hike fines from US$2 to US$5 in order to encourage vendors to operate from designated places.
“Illegal vending fines should rise from US$2 to US$5. We cannot implement that now of course, but that will be effected after vendors have been placed into various designated places to operate from,” said Ushe.
Council Chaiperson James Charumbira weighed in saying vendors had proper and adequate vending designated places where they are supposed to be operating from so there was no reason for having vendors in streets.
“Vendors have proper vending designated places which they should get back to and the illegal vending fines should be raised to US$5 per day to those who shall be caught operating on the streets,” said Charumbira.
Finance Director, Llyod Musasa also said illegal vendors were disadvantaging big corporates that pay huge taxes by operating in front of their stores.
“We also have vendors that are operating in front of big corporates that pay huge taxes, they need to be moved from those places,” said Musasa.
However, Chiredzi Town Council Town Secretary, Engineer Kauma highlighted that there was need to account for the two-dollar fines before implementing the US$5 dollars.
“We need to collect more as highlighted by the Audit Chair. There are a lot of areas that are not paying anything to the council and we need to change our culture in collecting these fines and fees. We need to introduce the five-dollar fines to the stubborn illegal vendors but meanwhile, we should continue with the two-dollar fines until we have accounted for the money being collected,” said Kauma.
