09 Dec 2014

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through Gaborone City Council (GCC), has taken a decision to safeguard the interest of the informal sector by allowing them to trade anywhere in the city.

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, when responding to a question in Parliament from Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa.

However, Ms Tshireletso said this would be subject to safety considerations such as; not locating their stalls adjacent to traffic junctions, close to roads reserves, in parking bays and avoiding the use of open flames or fires in public spaces.  This decision, she said was taken to protect and encourage growth of the informal sector in the City. 

Some raids that were conducted in early 2014, she said were those targeting individuals or foreign traders who were found to be hawking or vending in open spaces and in contravention of regulation 13(1) (a) and (c) of the Town Council (Hawking and Street Vending Regulations), as formulated in accordance with the Local Government Act No. 8 of 2012 and the Road Traffic Act Section 102 (2) Cap 69:01. 

As the council was responsible for ensuring compliance with the Public Health Act and general cleanliness of the City, she said it had in the past removed old tables, chairs and wooden or steel frames that were abandoned in public areas. 

“These items made the image of the city aesthetically unappealing and created hiding places for thieves and potential breeding spots for rodents. The removal of these items was done after extensive consultations or warnings through public notices; letters to vendors or hawkers; public announcements and meetings with vendors or hawkers,” she said.

“The consultations included the Council Executive Committees composed of Chairpersons of various Committees and myself,” she added.

Meetings with all stakeholders, the Assistant Minister said, were held between May 9, 2012 to July 23, 2013 and written notices were delivered to individual vendors between April 4, 2012 to August 3, 2012 and April 14, 2013 to December 6, 2013. 

Mr Nkaigwa had wanted to know what plans were in place to protect people in the informal sector who traded in open spaces in Gaborone from the continued raids by officials of the GCC. ENDS