Informal traders in Harare and Chitungwiza were left shocked after  council joined forces with the police to demolish illegal vending structures across the capital and the dormitory town as per government directive.

The council and police still carried the demolitions, despite residents’ associations filing an urgent High Court application seeking to bar government and local authorities from implementing the exercise.

In Chitungwiza’s Zengeza 4, structures were demolished at the same time as those at Mbudzi traffic circle along Harare-Masvingo Highway, with the council officials saying the programme would spread across the city.

Chaminuka Drive and Katanga structures were also demolished after the earthmoving machine had just destroyed household at Gonna business centre domitory town.

Government, through provincial development co-ordinator Tafadzwa Muguti, last week threatened to demolish all illegal structures across the city, which include shops and car sales, among others.