Chitown Ward 24 Cllr Matsika dismisses claims he backs Jambanja Market demolition

By Dungwiza News Reporter

CHITUNGWIZA ward 24 Councillor Obert Matsika has broken his silence over accusations that he is siding with the government’s latest directive to demolish illegal vending structures under Operation Chenesa Harare.

Some vendors at Jambanja Market in his ward, reportedly aligned to Zanu PF, have been circulating messages on social media accusing the councillor of supporting the planned destruction of the stalls.

In a statement issued on 26 September 2026 and seen by Dungwiza News, Cllr Matsika said the messages are false, defamatory and laced with hate speech and political malice.

“I have noted with concern some messages circulating on various social media platforms falsely attacking and defaming my character as the Councillor of Ward 24 in Chitungwiza.

“I appeal to Ward 24 residents, stakeholders and the general citizenry to ignore these misleading messages with connotations of hate speech, politically motivated malice and attacks,” Matsika said.

Matsika said he represents all residents in Ward 24, including informal traders, and sympathises with vendors targeted under Operation Chenesa Harare.

He revealed that he was raised by a family of informal traders who paid for his school fees through vending, and that he himself has been a product of Jambanja Market since 2008.

“It pains me to look back and not associate with this market that brought me this far. It is against this background that I will never incite the destruction of market stalls.”

The councillor said that Operation Chenesa Harare is not a Chitungwiza Municipality initiative, but a central government directive being implemented by all local authorities in Harare Metropolitan Province.

“Unfortunately, councils operate through resolutions and as an individual, I hold no power to veto any decision arrived at through a majority decision. I have no authority as an individual councillor to halt a Ministerial directive,” he said.

“Operation Chenesa Harare is a central government directive and is being implemented by all the local authorities in the Harare Metropolitan Province. It is therefore disheartening that some partisan and myopic individuals are spreading falsehoods and hate speech and dragging my name into a process that emanated from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.”

Matsika said he has a soft spot for informal traders at Jambanja and wants a stakeholder-driven solution and reorganisation of vending in the town, rather than destruction.

He noted that informal traders occupy a strategic position in the economy and contribute immensely to the economic development of Zimbabwe.

As a member of Chitungwiza Council’s Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Matsika said he will continue advocating for the recognition, reorganisation and improvement of the welfare of all informal traders.

Government last week announced a fresh crackdown on illegal vending structures in Harare Metropolitan Province, a move that has triggered anxiety among thousands of informal traders in Chitungwiza who depend on markets like Jambanja for survival.