The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
DEVELOPMENT partner, Care International is partnering Mutare City Council in constructing new vegetable and fruit market stalls in a move aimed at decentralising the supply chain and help in Covid-19 mitigation measures.
Under the First Phase, seven vendor markets were constructed.
A wholesale and retail markets were also constructed at Acid Chikanga, while six vending stalls were rehabilitated and 40 hand washing stations were set up.
Under Phase Two, four vending stalls were constructed, while one was rehabilitated. One wholesale market is under construction at Mukwena Shops in Dangamvura.
This is aimed at linking farmers to fruit and vegetable vendors through the wholesale markets and 150 vendors will benefit.
The development is meant to improve hygienic standards, more-so in view of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.
However, vegetable vendors in some areas around Mutare are resisting moving into the refurbished structures, opting to continue operating at makeshift stalls close to retail shops.
In an interview on the sidelines of a tour to assess progress of the newly constructed market stalls at Acid Shops in Zimta Park in Mutare, Local Government and Public Works’ director for urban local authorities, Mr Fungai Mbetsa said: “Care International has been funded by UNDP in the implementation of the urban resilience programme.
“We are happy to see markets like Acid Market being operational. However, we are not happy that the numbers are still very low. We strongly believe that council should decongest the Chikanga Produce Market. We hope council will take note of some of our observations as we continue with this monitoring tour.”
In a separate interview, City of Mutare spokesperson, Mr Spren Mutiwi said the decentralisation of market places in Mutare has been commended by other local authorities.
“Coincidentally, we also have, in our delegation, officials from the Municipality of Chinhoyi who are here to learn on how the City of Mutare has managed to decentralise vegetable markets in view of Covid-19 precautionary measures,” said Mr Mutiwi.
