Harare vendors charged following violent clashes during municipal crackdown

Violent clashes have erupted between street vendors and municipal authorities in Harare and Chitungwiza during ‘Operation Chenesai Guta’, a government-backed campaign to clear pavements of illegal trading structures.

In Harare, nine vendors appeared in court facing charges related to inciting resistance and throwing stones at police officers. The state alleges that during an enforcement operation on 26 September, stones were thrown at a vehicle belonging to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), causing US$200 in damage. The accused were remanded in custody following the incident.

The unrest has resulted in injuries to municipal workers and police officers. Confrontations were reported across several major streets in Harare’s central business district, including Speke Avenue and Robson Manyika Avenue, as well as near ABC Auctions. In Chitungwiza, violence broke out at the Unit L shopping area during attempts to demolish unauthorized structures.

The operation, led by local government officials, aims to improve sanitation and reduce urban congestion by moving traders into designated areas. Authorities have warned that the crackdown will extend to other urban settlements.