Gweru council orders vendors out of CBD by 25 September as Operation Chenesa spreads

The City of Gweru has ordered all vendors operating in the central business district to vacate by 25 September 2026 and announced new, strictly regulated trading hours.

In a public notice dated 23 September 2026, the municipality said no vending will be permitted within the CBD after the deadline.

“All vendors are hereby advised to vacate the City of Gweru Central Business District by the 25th of September 2026. No vending will be permitted within the CBD after this date,” the Council said.

The Council said operating hours will be strictly regulated effective immediately following the CBD vacation.

Vending operations in the CBD, where designated, will run strictly from 6 AM to 6 PM. Vendors operating within designated residential market areas are permitted to operate from 6 AM to 8 PM.

The municipality warned that failure to comply will result in enforcement action.

“All vendors are expected to strictly adhere to these new regulations and operating hours. Failure to comply will result in enforcement action by the relevant authorities, which may include confiscation of goods and prosecution,” the notice said.

“We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring an orderly and compliant trading environment.”

The Gweru directive comes as the Government has intensified a nationwide clean-up campaign, code-named Operation Chenesa, ahead of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit.

Zimbabwe will host the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit on October 22, 2026, at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, where it will take over the rotational bloc chairmanship from Kenya for the 2026-2027 term.