I’m By Staff Reporter
HARARE — The Harare City Council on Wednesday rolled out a joint enforcement operation in Harare’s central business district (CBD), deploying traffic officers and municipal police to enforce vending and traffic by-laws amid mounting concerns over congestion and public safety.
The operation, confirmed by city chamber secretary Warren Chiwawa, is aimed at restoring order in key sections of the city centre that have in recent months been dominated by illegal vending and chaotic commuter traffic.
“We are targeting hotspots.
“We regularly embark on joint enforcement exercises between Harare Traffic and Harare Municipal Police to ensure that public safety is prioritised.
“Basically, it’s an exercise meant to enforce the vendors’ bylaws and the traffic bylaws, and to regulate hawkers in order to bring back normalcy to the CBD,” he said.
The impact of the operation was visible across several parts of the CBD, with pedestrian walkways cleared and traffic movement improving along previously congested corridors.
The early-morning exercise focused on strategic locations, including the Market Square junction and major bus termini, while traffic officers were deployed at key intersections to ease congestion largely attributed to disorderly commuter omnibuses.
The enforcement drive drew approval from members of the public and formal business operators, who have repeatedly complained about the deterioration of order and accessibility in the city centre.
“It feels like a proper city again.
“Before, you couldn’t even walk on the pavement without being hassled or having to step into the road.
“There is a bit of sanity today,” said Tariro Gumbo, a bank teller who works in the CBD.
City officials said the operation marks the start of a sustained enforcement campaign rather than a once-off intervention, signalling that improved traffic flow and unobstructed pedestrian spaces are expected to be maintained going forward.
