Mbare market closure adds more misery for the poor in Harare

By Lance Guma
13 January 2006

Human rights lawyers have described the closure of the popular Mbare fruit and vegetable market in Harare as an attempt to victimise vendors. While the government argues that it is trying to contain an outbreak of Cholera which has so far claimed over 14 lives in different parts of the country thousands of vendors are no longer able to earn a living.

A commission illegally appointed by the government has failed to keep the market tidy with piles of uncollected rubbish strewn across the area. Instead of cleaning up the market they closed it down, saying it would contribute to the spread of diseases. Several farmers in outlying areas have failed to get their produce sold at the market, threatening the viability of their own agro-based projects.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said the city's health crisis had been caused by "the commission's unlawful actions". The commission had regrettably chosen to ignore their duty to repair malfunctioning waste disposal systems and omitted to remove refuse for many months. This was their duty under local legislation, by-laws and regulations, as well as under international human rights instruments.

Residents in the city, who are struggling to make ends meet, normally buy their provisions from the market and its closure has left them to face extortionate prices for goods elsewhere. Government commitment to the survival of the urban poor has been in doubt ever since the controversial Operation Murambatsvina, which saw thousands of homes and vending stalls destroyed. Observers say its part of a scheme to force those living in the cities into the rural areas where their loyalty to the opposition can be diluted.