Harare Mayor Addresses Concerns Over Street Food Vendors, Public Safety
Harare, Zimbabwe – Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has spoken out regarding a growing concern over informal food vendors operating in the city’s central business district, following the viral spread of a video showing a man cooking sadza – a staple Zimbabwean dish – on a gas stove in the street. The incident has sparked public outcry and renewed scrutiny of the Harare City Council’s ability to enforce its own bylaws.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, depicts a man preparing a large pot of sadza alongside a relish, using a gas stove in a busy area of the city centre. This is not an isolated incident, with many informal traders and night vendors already operating on Harare’s streets, some roasting corn and other foods.
“Harare is not a refugee camp. Harare is the capital city,” Mafume stated, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by open cooking, particularly with flammable gas canisters. “You can not bring fire… in the middle of the City where people are moving up and down with their cars. What happens if the fire breaks out? It will destroy properties.”
Mafume acknowledged the difficult balance between supporting livelihoods and ensuring public safety, stating a need to “strike a balance between the pursuit of livelihoods and the maintenance of public safety.” He further highlighted the public health risks associated with unregulated food vending, noting the potential costs to the city and its residents should foodborne illnesses occur.
“Food is a serious public health issue,” Mafume said. “Those people who fall sick… end up using the City and the City ends up paying and the residents are the ones who end up paying.”
The situation has also raised questions about corruption within the Harare City Council, with accusations that municipal officials may be accepting bribes to allow illegal vending to continue unchecked. The viral video has underscored the council’s apparent failure to enforce existing regulations.
While Mafume indicated that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are responsible for enforcement, he stressed the importance of prioritizing public safety. He concluded by stating, “We need to take care. We need to live. We need to have livelihoods but we must not damage.”
The incident reflects broader challenges facing Harare, as the informal sector continues to grow in response to economic hardship. The council faces ongoing pressure to address both the economic needs of its citizens and the safety and well-being of the wider population.
