The Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) and ZANU PF are on a collision course over the allocation of vending space at the Mupedzanhamo flea market in Mbare, Harare.
Mupedzanhamo has been closed for almost three years amid indications that space barons from the two political parties are tussling to control the Harare City Council-owned lucrative flea market.
An all-stakeholder meeting was held ahead of the imminent reopening of the market.
The meeting was attended by Harare Mayor Ian Makone, his deputy Kudzai Kadzombe and city council directors, among other stakeholders.
Harare City Council small and medium enterprises (SMEs) chairperson Denford Ndadziore told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200018914/ccczanu-pf-clash-over-mupedzanhamo-again">NewsDay</a> that the registration process of all SME traders was continuing ahead of the reopening. He said:
<blockquote>
We are excited to let you know that the reopening of the Mupedzanhamo market is now imminent.
For nearly three years, Mupedzanhamo has been closed, but renovations and revamping processes are almost complete.
It should be noted that the Mupedzanhamo market belongs to the City of Harare and political parties have no legal ownership or role in the running of the market.
In line with the new SMEs policy, all vendors and SME traders should be registered at all district offices in Harare.
</blockquote>
However, Mbare MP Martin Matinyanya (ZANU PF) said he was not invited to the meeting. He said:
<blockquote>
I was not part of the meeting, I don’t know what they discussed at the meeting, but as the Member of Parliament in Mbare, I want those people who benefited before to first get vending spaces.
</blockquote>
The reopening of the Mupedzanhamo market was initially planned for 20 December 2022 but this has been postponed on numerous occasions.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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CCC, ZANU PF On Collision Course Over Mupedzanhamo Vending Space

The City of Harare has postponed the re-opening of Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in Mbare which was scheduled for Tuesday, 20 December 2022.
In a statement, Harare City Council SMEs Committee Chairperson, Denford Ngadziore, said that the allocation process will be announced today. He said:
<blockquote>
The re-opening of the Mupedzanhamo Mbare market which was scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday 20th December 2022 has been postponed to a day to be advised later this week.
This is to allow the convening of the SMEs Committee meeting tomorrow Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 9 AM.
The allocation process and procedures will be announced tomorrow 20th December 2022 and will be duly communicated to all the stakeholders.
Any inconveniences caused by this delay are regretted.
</blockquote>
Mupedzanhamo was closed at the height of COVID-19 more than 3 years ago.
Recently, ZANU PF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists violently clashed for control of the market.
Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Tafadzwa Muguti, said that the flea market would be opening again before Christmas this year.

City Of Harare Postpones Reopening Of Mupedzanhamo

A City of Harare councillor on Friday claimed that the Joint Operations Command (JOC) is blocking the reopening of the Mupedzanhamo flea market in Mbare.
JOC is the supreme organ for the coordination of State security in the country and comprises officers drawn from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS).
Harare City Council’s Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) committee chairperson, Councillor Denford Ngadziore (CCC) t<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004483/joc-blocks-mupedzanhamo-flea-market-reopening">old NewsDay that</a> JOC blocked the reopening of the flea market to prevent violence. He said:
<blockquote>
As Harare City Council, we are worried because JOC stopped the opening of the Mupedzanhamo flea market recently. They said they are avoiding violence.
A meeting was held at the Harare Metropolitan secretary Tafadzwa Muguti’s office, where JOC shot down proposals to reopen the flea market.
We had hoped to open the flea market in October. We think that it is the right time to open the market after we talked to all the warring parties.
We wanted the market to have been opened before the festive season so that traders could benefit.
</blockquote>
Ngadziore said they would continue to engage relative authorities, including the police to ensure that vendors resume their activities.
However, the national spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Ngadziore’s claims were baseless.
He said, “these issues are co-ordinated by Harare Metropolitan provincial secretary” and councillors should not tarnish the image of the police.
Muguti yesterday declined to comment on the matter when he was contacted by NewsDay.
Mupedzanhamo flea market has been closed for years now and vendors had resorted to using the open space outside the market to sell their wares.
A few weeks ago, violent clashes broke out between alleged space barons from ZANU PF and CCC fighting for control of the lucrative vending stalls.

JOC Blocked Mupedzanhamo Flea Market Reopening, Says Ngadziore

ZANU PF Original leader Jim Kunaka has blamed ZANU PF and the City of Harare for the recent clashes in Mbare, Harare, that resulted in the loss of lives and significant damage to property.
Kunaka, who allegedly led the Mbare-based violent Chipangano group, spoke to <a href="https://openparly.com/two-organisations-responsible-for-mupedzanhamo-skirmishes-according-to-jim-kunaka/">Open Parly ZW</a> about the background of the conflicts between ZANU PF and CCC activists that resulted in the burning down of market stalls at Mupedzanhamo Flea Market.
Kunaka claimed that ZANU PF seeks to control Mbare and allocate vending spaces to its supporters while keeping opposition activists out. He said:
<blockquote>
The problem of clashes between the two political parties ZANU PF and CCC is being caused by ZANU PF.
I am saying so because they are fighting to take control of Mbare.
We all know that in 2018 Mbare was won by the CCC at the constituency level.
One ward went to CCC, and one ward in which people are fighting today went to ZANU PF.
In 2008 there was a mixture of people from different political parties in that market.
But MDC-T supporters trading at the Mupedzanhamo market were chased away from the market.
Now, when the government shut down the market to allow the council to rehabilitate it.
The traders who were forcefully removed from the market saw an opportunity to claim back what belongs to them.
They have approached the City of Harare department responsible for markets, requesting them to give them back the 20 stalls.
</blockquote>
Kunaka accused a local ZANU PF youth leader of orchestrating the attacks targetting CCC activists resulting in the running battles. He said:
<blockquote>
The problem has been created by the provincial youth chairman called Mahachi, he is the one who is sending ZANU PF youths from other wards coming to fight the CCC guys who are operating a flea market.
He also blamed the violence on Harare City Council’s alleged failure to create more vending sites for residents which led to fighting for space. Said Kunaka:
I put the whole blame for what is happening on the City of Harare.
The relevant department should be creating more vending sites.
There is no employment in our country and vendors are increasing at an alarming rate on a daily basis.
It means the local authority is not being creative.
They should have created more markets within Mbare because the spaces are there.
</blockquote>

Jim Kunaka Blames Two Organisations For Mbare Violence

Some vending tables and secondhand clothes at Mupedzanhamo flea market in Mbare, Harare, were set on fire on Friday night and Saturday by suspected ZANU PF activists.
It is believed that the arson attack was a form of punishment meted on vendors who refused to pay fees to space barons who control vending space at the market.
However, Mbare ward 4 councillor Martin Matinyaya (ZANU PF) told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200001755/mupedzanhamo-set-ablaze">NewsDay</a> that violence broke out after a ZANU PF member was fatally assaulted by suspected CCC activists. Said Matinyaya:
<blockquote>
We have a serious challenge here. The CCC members attacked one of our members Onisimo Mavhungire, who later died on his way to the hospital.
Our guys then went to the flea market intending to catch the seven CCC members, but they ran away.
Out of anger, they might have destroyed the tables belonging to the CCC activists.
</blockquote>
This is not the first time that violence over space has broken out between vendors. space barons and political activists.
Last month, ZANU PF and CCC youths clashed over the control of the market stalls currently being run by ruling party activists.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume condemned the incident and called for peaceful co-existence at Mupedzanhamo.
Harare police provincial spokesperson Inspector Julius Chakanza told NewsDay that he had not received a report about the clashes.

Vending Tables, Clothes At  Mupedzanhamo Flea Market Set On Fire

Anti-riot police had to fire teargas to stop clashes between ZANU PF and CCC youths in Mbare, Harare on Tuesday morning and again in the afternoon.
The youths were fighting for the control of flea market spaces in Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo area resulting in damage to some vending stalls and vehicles and the closure of shops.
The market spaces are currently being controlled by space barons linked to ZANU PF who reportedly demand fees from vendors to allow them to operate in the area.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume condemned the violence saying there is a need to find solutions to challenges facing Mbare residents. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
As city council, we have always maintained that we need to deal with the situation in Mbare, the area needs to be renewed and have order.
We cannot continue with the Wild West mentality that is in Mbare. People are being victimised, spaces are being taken and it is difficult to provide services to Mbare.
We need a solution to the issues of Mbare, which includes all stakeholders to come up with infrastructure, and social and economic plan that serves the interest of the residents.
We condemn violence by space barons and the attacks that are happening there. We need peace to prevail.
</blockquote>
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation director Samuel Wadzai said tension had been building up over the past two weeks. He said:
<blockquote>
There are space barons who are politically connected, people who claim to own spaces, especially ZANU PF. They will be removing people claiming that they own certain spaces.
So today, they wanted to remove people from those spaces that they own, that is how the fight started. This tension has been growing for almost two weeks or so.
</blockquote>
ZANU PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi accused CCC activists of inciting the violence while CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba said he was yet to find out what had happened. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000461/ccc-zanu-pf-youths-in-running-battles">NewsDay</a>

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