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Veeslee Mhepo
MASVINGO— Business people around
Nemamwa Growth Point have confronted Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) over
shop licence hike from US$24 to US$100 per term saying the move was arbitrary and counterproductive.
The
business people today (March 29) besieged the council offices at Nemamwa
demanding justification on the increments with some saying the council has
failed to deal with illegal vendors who have taken over the growth point yet
they do not pay any licences.
A
business person who runs a grocery store at the growth point said he was
unhappy with the way the council was letting illegal vendors sprout at the
growth point taking away all the customers yet they shoulder no costs.
“How
could you just wake up saying shop licences are now US$100 from US$24? This is
madness and we have gone to the council to demonstrate our anger and
frustrations.
“The
council has completely failed to deal with illegal vendors who sell everything
on the streets and yet they do not pay any costs.
“These
vendors sometimes camp on out shop entrances selling the same products we have
inside and in the end no one will buy from us. We have pleaded with council to
address this issue but they have remained in the terraces.
“Even
those who operate bottle stores, there are a lot of shabeens and illegal liquor
points in the residential areas yet the council does nothing,” said one
business person.
Masvingo
RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Martin Mubviro told TellZim News that he was
out of office when the business people demonstrated at the council offices but
said he was briefed and called on business people to find less confrontational
methods of engagement.
“I am
out of office but I have been told about the demonstration. These people need
help and most of them seem not to understand what is going on.
“You
don’t just wake up angry and say you want to vent that anger on the council.
People should find less confrontational means of engagement.
“Demonstrations
will not bring the intended results. Dialogue is the only way out of this and
the business people have to come to negotiating table with their demands and we
discuss.
“You
cannot start with demonstrations as if we have refused them and ear,” said
Mubviro.
