The ManicaPost
Post Correspondent
CITY-based entrepreneurs and small to medium enterprises need not worry any more for business space following the recent unveiling of the Village Market Complex, a state-of-the-art hub which gives them a sense of identity and location.
Built on 4 400 square meters, the state-of-the-art complex is already a business hub and home to 162 small to medium entrepreneurs. Shoppers have the luxury of night shopping given that the complex is fully floodlit. The facility boasts user friendly amenities and comfortably caters for disabled persons
Located in the Central Business District, corner Second Street and Second Avenue, Mutare, The Village Market Complex opened its doors to the business community last Friday and is set to be officially opened in May, though traders are already conducting their day-to-day activities.
The Village Market spokesperson, Mr Abdul Omar said the complex seeks to give a sense of identity, fixed location, and belonging to the Manicaland SME community.
“Our aim is to promote SMEs and entrepreneurs to enable them to pursue their ambitions in terms of starting up their own enterprises. We hope to have provided stallholders with a functional facility to achieve this.
Mr Omar said the complex’s units provide a trader with a lockable, self contained space within which they are able to display, store and trade their wares.
The complex is an upgrade of the traditional flea market which is usually offered with no permanent structure wherein operators are required to pack and unpack their wares on a daily basis which consumes up to two hours of their trading time with potential to damage their goods. Harare flea market traders pay as much as $10 a day for no permanent structure to market and sell their wares from their flea markets while Mutare flea markets fork out a slightly lesser amount daily to city council. This however, does not include overnight storage and transport costs.
The Village Market Complex setup is however, completely different to the old model flea market set-ups as traders store their wares in their private units and lock them till the next day. The complex provides security for its resident traders and a clean ablution block is available at a nominal charge.
He applauded stakeholders for their cooperation on the project particularly Mutare City Council, the contractors and the SME industry in the city who all contributed to the success of the Village Market project.
The SME community in Mutare has welcomed the initiative as evidenced by the overflow of traders who are thronging the complex’s offices in a bid to secure trading space. Unfortunately, all units are already occupied and a large number are now on the waiting list.
“The rentals are quite good and unfortunately I failed to get a unit because they are already fully occupied. I have been placed on the waiting list and hope to be moving into the complex soon. The complex is secure and gives me as a trader more trading space unlike at the old model flea market. I really cannot wait to secure myself a trading unit in the complex,” said Mrs Chipo Mapira, an entrepreneur.
The facility boasts operators in the fields of cellphones and electronics, jewellery and cosmetics, clothing, hardware, food takeaway, kitchenware, candy shops and more. We encourage one and all to visit this vibrant development in the heart of Mutare.
