The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has thrown its weight behind the City of Harare and Government’s regeneration and clean up of the city programme saying orderly and clean cities are critical to improving residents’ quality of life. ZNOART National Chairman, Shepherd Shalvar Chikomba, hailed the clean-up initiative when he accompanied the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon Daniel Garwe and His Worship the Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume at the launch along ED Mnangagwa Road on Wednesday. “We are particularly encouraged that the initiative is expected to be rolled out across cities and towns throughout Zimbabwe,” Mr Chikomba said. The residents’ apex body said it supports the drive to restore “order, cleanliness and dignity” but stressed that relocation of vendors will only work if authorities provide tangible alternatives. “While ZNOART supports the restoration of order, relocation will only succeed if vendors are provided with genuine and viable trading opportunities,” he said. “A market may be physically available, but if customers cannot access it, vendors cannot afford the fees, or there are inadequate basic services, relocation will not provide a sustainable solution,” he reasoned. He emphasised that ZNOART is appealing to vendors to cooperate and move into lawfully designated markets. “Vendors are law-abiding citizens. They are not looking for confrontation or disorder. They simply want to earn a living, support their families and contribute to Zimbabwe’s economy,” he said. Mr Chikomba said Harare must set the pace saying, “Harare is Zimbabwe’s capital city and the face of our nation. We believe Harare must set the standard for what a clean, orderly, modern, safe and well-managed city should look like,” he said. The ZNOART Chairman rallied Zimbabweans to support the new page turned by the City of Harare in sync with the Government. “Let us work together to build clean, orderly and world-class cities where no one and no place is left behind,” he said.
