Tekeshe: Why is vending being criminalised when there are no jobs?
Makoni Central legislator David Tekeshe has asked the government to explain the logic of criminalising vending when there are no jobs in the country.
Vendors in most urban areas spend the day in running battles with Zimbabwe Republic Police, as well as municipal police.
In most cases, during these running battles, their wares are damaged while some go to waste.
According to Tekeshe, it does not make sense that the same government that has failed to provide the vendors goes again and destroys what they have built for themselves.
‘’My matter of national interest pertains to vendors in our country. Vending is being regarded as a criminal offence that is punishable more than murderers and robbers yet there are no jobs in the country.
‘’Since there are no jobs and we are beating, harassing and confiscating their wares, vendors have now resorted to stealing and committing various criminal offences. We are all aware of the fact that jobs are scarce and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is doing nothing to alleviate the situation.
‘’Other countries have no problems of vendors because their Social Welfare provides requisite support which we do not have. Madam Speaker, you are well travelled, and I am sure that you have had an opportunity to visit the zoo.
‘’In zoos, we see zoo workers playing with wild animals, and the animals do not hurt them. This is because the animals are well fed. As Government, we should ensure that our citizenry is well fed and allow them to vend until such a time that they secure employment.
‘’There is a saying that a hungry man is an angry man, and he can do anything in order to put food on the table. Hence our country will not be habitable.
‘’My request is for Parliament to come up with relevant laws to protect and allow vendors to eke a living. We are always complaining about our paltry salaries, and yet vendors have nowhere to complain because they do not have anything. I am saying these people are not vending in order to amass wealth but to put food on the table. Let us allow them to do so.
‘’Could the relevant Honourable Minister bring a Ministerial Statement on what measures are in place to cater for the peaceful operating of vendors? Vendors only operate in peaceful environments during election time and they wish for elections to be conducted annually,’’ he said.
Tekeshe: Why is vending being criminalised when there are no jobs?
