The prevailing volatile environment in and around Nyanga is hindering trading efforts by the local vendors.
According to one vendor, the situation is putting their businesses under a severe strain.
In recent weeks, Nyanga has been on a knife-edge with buses and private vehicles being stoned and set alight.
Tensions in the area began two weeks ago when law enforcement agencies started a clampdown on illegal small taxi operators, mainly known as amaphela. Scores of taxis have since been impounded for operating without necessary licenses. Tempers reached a boiling point on Friday 2 September, and into the weekend, with several roads in and around Nyanga closed due to violent protests. Most local businesses and street vendors were also forced to shut down their operations.
While the situation remained volatile, some businesses and vendors returned to trade on Saturday and Sunday.
When City Vision visited Nyanga Terminus on Saturday, most stalls remained deserted with debris still on certain streets.
A day later, on Sunday 4 September, only a few stalls were opened.
One of the local vendors, who only described herself as MaYarha, expressed frustration with the violence, but remained optimistic that things would improve into the start of the new week.
She appealed to the law enforcement agencies and the taxi owners to settle their differences.
According to her, the violence has a huge impact on their businesses.
She added that she has lost a lot of money since the strike started. She said she wished that the taxi owners had informed them prior to embarking on the strike.
“Most of my stuff got rotten because I could not sell it. I had to throw my fruit away because it was rotten. For the whole of last week I didn’t work,” said MaYarha, adding that among others she sells cigarettes and sweets.
She said that most of her colleagues are yet to come to work. “We are working even though we are scared because anything can happen. But we don’t have a choice because we need to support our families.People were shot by police with rubber bullets during the strike last week. We were also ducking. We had to close our stalls,” she stated.
However, she said they understand the pain felt by the taxi owners because they don’t have other sources of income. MaYarha said she wishes that the City can grant the taxi owners a certain period to allow them to fix their work permits.