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Government has announced that they have put in place measures to eliminate unlawful space barons who have occupied open space and are interfering with Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operations across the city.
Speaking at a press briefing, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Sithembiso Nyoni highlighted that some SMEs Associations have expressed their readiness to cooperate with Government and the Local Authority in order to bring back sanity at their work sites.
“My Ministry has noted with concern the challenges being experienced by SMEs in Harare Metropolitan Province with regards to access to appropriate, affordable and modern workspaces.
“These challenges have manifested themselves in the recent disturbances particularly the case of Glenview Furniture Complex where fire incidences have occurred twice over the last two months and destroyed up to 90% of the traders’ wares and equipment.
“Another case in point is the continued closure of Mupedzanhamo market and recent cases of violence which are being reported at that market place which sadly resulted in the loss of an innocent life.
“To address these issues, as a Ministry we have started engagements with various Government Department and stakeholders such as Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Ministry of Housing and Social Amenities, Office of the Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Zimbabwe Republic Police and City of Harare with a view to reorganise and modernise the MSME workspace facilities,” she said.
Nyoni added that Mupedzanhamo market will be reopened after a face lift.
“A recent assessment of Mupedzanhamo Market showed that there is need to renovate and refurbish the facilities before reoccupation. There is need to clean the market by removing heaps of rubbish. There is also need to construct additional toilets to match the 1500 traders.
“The whole complex has only one tap connected to the City Council water source and hence there is need to put up more water sources to match the number of traders in the market.
“In addition to Mupedzanhamo and Glenview Furniture Complex, Shawasha Grounds and Coca-Cola Corner have also been earmarked for rapid development to address the workspace challenges in the Greater Harare area.
“With regards to funding for these developments, Government has made engagements with Pension Funds and the Private Sector to partner on these initiatives. I am glad to advise that these institutions have expressed willingness to work with Government in renovating existing or put up new modern workspaces for the sector,” said Nyoni.
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