The ManicaPost
Mercy Ngwebvu
The recent arrest of a female vendor near Dangamvura rank last week has sparked mixed sentiments from fellow vendors and the general public.While the police may feel justified to arrest these vendors whenever they find it convenient, most of the vendors and the people we managed to interview felt that the process of arresting these vendors is marred with various irregularities.
One vendor, who simply identified herself as Melo expressed bitterness about the way the police treats them, describing them as heartless people who are after their hard earned money.
“It is an everyday struggle for us as vendors to get money because the police are always chasing after us. They are displaying a form of heartlessness that we are failing to understand. This is our only way of surviving and for them to chase us every day, is so unfair,”
“Last week they arrested our colleague and watching her cry as they took her to the police station was not a pleasant sight. How can you cuff someone as if they had committed murder? It was just a vendor trying to make a living,” she said.
Not only did the other vendors agree with Melo, but they also felt that if only the City Council could give them proper vending areas, they would unleash all the potential they have in them as entrepreneurs. One of the vendors who sells her wares in Sakubva where it is popularly known as kuspeed said: “It was my hope that indigenization would come to fruition after the 2013 polls and in my dreams I had built my castle from very humble beginnings of being a vendor and possibly rent a shop corner and eventually a shop,”
“Here I am still having running battles with the law enforcing agents despite the shortage of vending places around town. One of my colleagues, sharing the same dreams as mine was caught last week, cuffed and led to the police station as if she had committed a grievous offence. The powers that be should help us indigenise and realise our dreams because some of us carry great potential.”
The Manica Post also learnt that most of the police’s victims are women because it is alleged that men have syndicates with the police so that their wares are not seized. The women also claimed that they cannot form the same syndicates because some of the police officers start asking for sexual favours. Responding to the issue, police spokesperson for Manicaland, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said the police would be acting in their right by arresting the vendors because most of them will be blocking pavements, something which he described as an offence. He, however, castigated all police officers who misuse their power by being brutal or corrupt.
Said Assistant Inspector Chananda: “It is an offence for vendors to block pavements and so the police will be conveying their duties when they arrest them. However police officers should not misuse their power by being corrupt or brutal. I am urging vendors to ask for receipts whenever they are fined by the police because all that money belongs to the State and should be receipted. Speaking to The Manica Post concerning the issue, the town clerk Mr Obert Muzawazi expressed disappointment in the police’s approach when handling vendors.
He also urged vendors to make use of authorised vending places to avoid unnecessary hassles with the police.
Said the town clerk: “It is sad that vendors are in a continuous struggle with the police concerning vending areas and blocked pavements.
Instead of treating them like hard core criminals, cuffing them and all, the police should at least be humane in their conduct.
“On the other hand, I would like to urge the vendors to make use of authorized vending areas. This helps the vendors to avoid unnecessary friction with the police, in the process ensuring that they retain their dignity.”
Also commenting on the issue was the provincial development officer for Manicaland in the Ministry of Women affairs, gender and community development, Mrs Chido Tsinakwadi Madiwa who said both men and women should keep in mind that no one is above the law.
“The fact that the woman was cuffed could be a reflection that she was resisting arrest and in as much as we may want to advocate for women, they also need to understand that the police have a duty to maintain peace and order. However I am beseeching various stakeholders to take the plight of vendors into serious cognizance so that we assist them as best we can,” said Mrs Madiwa.
