HARARE – Hundreds of vending stalls were destroyed between Friday and Sunday in Chitungwiza and Mbare, but Harare mayor Herbert Gomba denied they were responsible.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said it had “verified reports of the destruction of vending structures used by informal traders at C Junction in Chitungwiza”.

At Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza, vendors had been given a 30-minute notice to evacuate by soldiers and police before municipal authorities rolled in with graders to clear the stalls.

An estimated 200 vendors had their stalls destroyed in Chitungwiza alone, the Forum said.

In Mbare, Harare, a grader was used to flatten log cabins and makeshift tuckshops from the corner of Cripps and Remembrance roads all the way up to Mbare Musika.

On January 25, the council’s official Twitter account sent out the following notice: “All illegal tuckshop owners in Mbare are advised to urgently remove their structures before dawn tomorrow. Vendors are urged to relocate to designated trading sites. Illegal activities are blocking roads, walkways and entrances into rate-paying businesses.”

Harare mayor Herbert Gomba, asked on Twitter if he had “given directive for the demolitions happening in Harare” replied: “No.”

Gomba referred angry Harare residents to a comment given to a Sunday paper in which he said: “We have not made a resolution to that effect. My council’s policy is that of engagement and we have always advocated for that. I’m not sure if that was followed but we will investigate further and give details.”

Zimbabwe’s high unemployment has forced many to resort to informal trading. The destruction of the stalls is a major blow to the traders and their families.