Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, says he will work with the relevant authorities to impose a total ban on night vending in the Central Business District after some vendors were seen cooking sadza out in the open.
A video circulating online shows a man at a busy junction cooking sadza and what looks like relish on two separate gas stoves, creating a serious risk to passing commuters.
Commenting on the clip, Mafume warned that serving food in the city centre like this is a major public health hazard, adding that no economic challenge can ever justify such behaviour. He wrote on X:
“We will consult the relevant authorities, but this calls for a complete ban on nighttime trading or strict regulation of it.
“This type of serving food in the city centre is a serious public health risk. We have noted the economic push factors, but they do not justify this!”
Meanwhile, X user BaShona said Harare residents have developed a worrying culture of carelessness.
He said some of the city’s challenges, such as traffic congestion and blocked drains, stem from this behaviour. Wrote BaShona:
“Zimbabweans, let’s be honest with ourselves. We can blame the City of Harare and Mayor Jacob Mafume all we want, but here is the reality: we, the citizens of Harare, have developed a serious culture of carelessness.
“From the way we drive to the way we litter everywhere, it shows that we no longer care enough about the future of our city.
“Just look at this situation — someone cooking with gas at a very busy terminus. If those two gas tanks were to explode, how many people would survive? This is extremely dangerous and completely irresponsible.
“We also complain about blocked drainage systems, but who is blocking them? In many cases it is the vendors and the waste that is dumped everywhere. If we are honest, we must admit that part of the problem lies with us as citizens.
“We need to change our mentality and start taking responsibility for our environment and our city. There is no justification for this kind of nonsense.”
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