Zanu PF space barons protest against Coltart

ZANU PF space barons yesterday sponsored a demonstration against Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and the council after they were evicted from the city’s Fifth Avenue.

Bulawayo City Council temporarily closed the street for renovations, where it plans to create 500 stalls.

Space barons invade Fifth Avenue in 2022 and illegally allocate shopping areas to Zanu PF members.

They also collected fees from suppliers on a weekly basis.

However, the illegal allocation of commercial zones created chaos in the central business district (CBD), leaving some areas impassable.

Protesters marched to Fifth Avenue before heading to City Hall, where they complained about their eviction.

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The protesters said they had been out of the business for the past three months and that the city had not informed them when they would be allowed to return to the vending areas.

Indigenization Vendors spokesperson Sawu Jere said they were ready to occupy their vending spaces.

“We had a meeting with the city council about the issue and the allocation of retail areas in the CBD,” he said.

“All the vendors presented everything the local authority requested. “It’s been three months now.”

Another vendor said: “We are the children of Zanu PF who registered at those vending stalls.

“We are the sellers that we are from there and the moment they take away our merchandise, what will we sell? “We need money for rent and school fees as schools will open next week.”

City clerk Christopher Dube said the allocation of concession stands had never been done without consultation.

“All associations in the corresponding sector reached an agreement and presented the chosen names to the BCC for the allocation of points of sale. However, some associations are now requesting to add additional names that were not agreed upon during the meetings,” he said.

“This situation has given rise to numerous conflicts, but we strive to address the needs of all stakeholders to maintain balance.

“It is important to note that the City of Bulawayo is not directly allocating sales areas, but is implementing decisions made during meetings with stakeholders.”

Dube said 419 bays out of 576 had already been allocated.

“We are now accelerating the allocation as agreed between the city council and the associations.”