Victoria Falls City Council tackle illegal vending

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Victoria Falls City Council has begun conducting a raid blitz against illegal vendors in the resort, whom they accuse of evading paying licenses and causing an alarming littering.

According to the town clerk Ronnie Dube, those found trading illegally will face penalties while also risking possession of their products.

“Victoria Falls City Council wishes to warn residents and stakeholders against vending and selling of wares on undesignated areas,” Dube warned.

He said the local authority owns several designated areas of trade, from which prospective traders can sell their goods and wares and is aware that there are some licensed private players who offer similar services.

” Thus, strategic traders are encouraged to utilize such fertility facilities for orderly business transactions and undesignated vending has also given an alarming rise to littering and unhygienic practices in Victoria Falls, hence in the quest to restore order Council has deployed its security personnel to clear the community of unlicensed traders, ”

“Members of the public found trading on and designated areas and operating without licenses will be penalized residents and stakeholders are also encouraged to report anyone found trading illegally.”

Vendors operating from designated vending sites pay about US$20 annual licence fees while shop licences range between US$100 and US$600 for small boutiques and grocery shops.

Victoria Falls Traders Association has been complaining about an influx of illegal traders who sell door-to-door and on the streets taking away business, mainly traders from Zambia.

As of Sunday, Council announced that it had started clamping down on illegal vendors.