By A Correspondent – Masvingo Ward 9 Councillor Bernard Muchokwa has urged municipal officials to end what he described as the mistreatment of pushcart operators, arguing that they should be treated with dignity like any other working residents.

Speaking during Monday’s full council sitting, Muchokwa said the men and women pushing carts across the city are not loiterers, but breadwinners doing honest work.

According to him, many of them are in the informal sector by necessity, yet they still manage to put food on the table and send their children to school.

“These are people working hard to survive,” Muchokwa told council. “They deserve respect. They are supporting families and paying fees, just like everyone else.”

His comments come amid growing complaints from pushcart operators who say they are constantly being chased away, fined, and having their equipment confiscated by council officers.

Muchokwa’s appeal adds pressure on the local authority to adopt a more humane approach toward informal traders and transporters who form a key part of Masvingo’s economy.