The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
MUTARE City Council will not be re-opening the Sakubva Musika Market in the near future, but will find new areas in the sprawling high-density suburb to open new markets, The Manica Post has learnt.
In a wide ranging interview on Wednesday, Mutare mayor, Councillor Blessing Tandi said they still want to ensure all market places are decongested to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We are not going to re-open Sakubva Musika anytime soon because we closed it as part of our efforts to decongest market places. Most farmers and traders prefer having their produce sold at Sakubva Musika because of its central location. However, the moment we re-open it, our efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 would have been in vain.
“We took into consideration the plight of Sakubva residents who are now travelling to nearby high-density suburbs to buy produce for resale and we are in the process of identifying alternative areas to establish new markets in the city’s oldest high-density suburb,” said Councillor Tandi.
He said the local authority is also working on modalities to ensure the re-opening of the Sakubva Swimming Pool Flea Market.
“We are cognisant of the fact that our economy is informal and most of our revenue comes from that sector. We have not totally closed our doors on the players in the informal sector because the revenue we get there is vital in sustaining our operations.
“We want to decongest operations at the flea market and we are working with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises to ensure that there is order at the flea market. If we fail to act, council will lose out because the players in that sector will flood residential areas at undesignated selling points, thereby creating a health hazard, while council will be losing revenue in the process,” said Councillor Tandi.
He said the local authority is working flat out to ensure the continuous provision of basic social amenities at new vending sites in Chikanga, Dangamvura and Hobhouse to guarantee the health and safety of farmers, traders and the community at large.
On the contentious issue of allocation of residential stands to councillors, Government officials, members of the security forces and the judiciary, Councillor Tandi said everything is above board, adding that those who do not meet the allocation criteria are not beneficiaries of the exercise.
“We resolved that council allocates residential stands to sitting councillors who are in their first term of office and have not benefitted from allocations in terms of Circular Number 12 of 2020. The stands will be offered on a lease basis with an option to purchase. Payments will be made in equal monthly instalments and completed before the end of the term of office of the councillors. The stands will be sold at a discount of 40 percent of the normal land value,” he said.
Councillor Tandi added: “On the allocation of stands to Government department employees, the committee went through the list of officials and removed some names of those who do not reside in Mutare.”
Meanwhile, Mutare City Council has teamed up with the United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust to embark on a door-to-door revenue collection exercise.
The programme began on Monday in Chikanga, ZIMTA and Hobhouse suburbs.
The local authority is also updating its database to ensure that residents receive their bills and other communications electronically.
Do not miss the next edition of The Manica Post as we will publish the Mayor’s full interview on our Hot Seat column next week.
