100 SMEs evicted in Bulawayo

AT least 100 Small to Medium Enterprise (SMEs) entrepreneurs were yesterday evicted from a privately-owned building, which they were renting in Bulawayo, over a long-standing dispute between the tenants and the owner of the building in yet another knock on the city's economic revival effort.

The entrepreneurs were evicted from Geddes building situated at the corner of 6th Avenue and George Silundika Street after the owner indicated that he intended to sell it.

This comes at a time when the city is suffering from de-industrialisation with over 80 companies having either shut down or relocated to Harare over the past years. Thousands of former workers were made redundant with some reportedly tracking back to the rural areas while others' houses face auction for unpaid bills from various organisations.

Tenants began removing their wares from the building as early as 8am yesterday.

In an interview, the financial director of the SMEs centre, Mr Bishop Clement Malaba, lambasted the owners of the building as the eviction would negatively affect the lives of hundreds of people who were either employed or benefiting from the centre.

"The eviction was in compliance with a High Court order we received last year over a dispute between the landlord and tenants of the building. The issue dates back to 2011 when Geddes shut down, after we were led to believe the building had been sold.

"We have been in and out of the courts since then and have reached numerous consensuses but it has finally come to this,'' said Mr Malaba.

He also said it was unfortunate for the SMEs that now have to shut down their business ventures due to the decision taken by the owner.

"Over 100 tenants have lost their jobs, this coming at a time when we say the SME sector is the only way our nation's economy can survive.

"However, we will not give up, we will fight right to the end, moving out doesn't signify we have lost. We were just acting in compliance with the law but we will soon appeal to a higher court,'' he said.

Some of the affected tenants, who spoke to this paper, said they were now stranded as their only means of making a living had been abruptly taken away.

They also said the centre had given them a cheaper option of accommodation.

"This is a catastrophe, we had become dependent on our businesses and now we have to go back to the drawing board. We are in the middle of an economic crisis and someone just decides to throw us onto the streets just to please his selfish needs,'' said a tenant who refused to be named.

Another tenant called on the Government to immediately intervene in the matter if it is sincere on promoting the SMEs sector.

"Government needs to seriously consider getting involved in this issue as a matter of urgency. If this sector is to be regarded as the backbone to reviving business such projects need necessary support from all angles,'' said the tenant.

The SME sector has widely been regarded as an integral part in the quest to revive the economy.

The sector has provided sanctuary to a number of workers who have lost their jobs following the closure of a number of companies.

More than 85 companies have closed shop in Bulawayo alone with an estimated 20 000 workers losing their jobs.

A few weeks ago Cabinet instructed Treasury and CABS to immediately release $5 million from the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) to 30 Bulawayo companies to revive their businesses.

However there has been no clear picture on how the money has been distributed or used as companies continue to reel under operational challenges.