Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Harare Metropolitan Province, Oliver Chidawu has revealed that rogue extortionists at Glen View Area 8 Complex have formed an illegal committee that is extorting fees from traders.
The Minister said extortionists created an illegal committee as part of an extortionist scheme.
“There is a bona fide committee comprising of traders who pay levies to City of Harare but this committee has been violently displaced by some rogue space barons. ,” Chidawo said.
“We shall be moving to restore order at this complex as well.”
Besides Glen View, space barons are also targeting illegal structures in Mbare to extort money from people operating from the areas, using political party names according to the Minister.
“Our position is that the local authority must be able to collect revenue from its facilities and spaces and boost its coffers in order to help improve service delivery,” Chidawu said.
“Currently, we have rogues who are besmirching the names of political parties falsely claiming to have endorsement from political parties to collect money from informal traders, public toilets and bus ranks. In particular, there are rogues claiming to have the endorsement of the ruling ZANU PF to collect money yet this is false and the Party does not have any link whatsoever to these individuals.”
“Let me take this opportunity to make it clear that ZANU PF does not tolerate indiscipline of the sort that is being perpetrated by these space barons and has never received any money from these individuals,” went on Chidawu.
The Minister also revealed that he is in discussion with the Harare City Council to resolve space challenges faced by traders in the metropolitan province.
“There are other options that we are currently discussing with the Harare City Council. Furthermore, we are going to open the Mupedzanhamo informal traders market shortly.”
