News / National
Looted retail shops re-open in Bulawayo
12 Feb 2019 at 14:47hrs | Views
Some retail outlets that were looted and had their properties damaged in Bulawayo have started to re-open and are hopeful of government's support following the establishment of an emergency relief fund.
The development follows a recent tour undertaken by senior government officials including the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube who said the government has established an emergency relief fund to assist victims of looting.
In a snap survey conducted by ZBC News, a number of retail outlets that were heavily affected had started to restock and sell basic products such as mealie-meal, cooking oil, bread and milk in their vandalised shops.
Speaking to ZBC News, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers board member Zak Hawa said western suburbs shop owners have started to re-open and sell basic commodities to members of the community whilst they await the disbursement of the emergency fund.
Mr Mthokozisi Sibanda whose business was vandalised said he had started restocking and was hopeful of benefiting from the fund.
Residents in suburbs such as Pumula South, Entumbane and Emakhandeni had to travel to the CBD in order to buy basic commodities such as bread, an issue that had become very expensive for locals given the transport costs involved.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that 182 shops were affected and the assessment of damaged property so far stand at above $30 million and investigations are still underway.
The development follows a recent tour undertaken by senior government officials including the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube who said the government has established an emergency relief fund to assist victims of looting.
In a snap survey conducted by ZBC News, a number of retail outlets that were heavily affected had started to restock and sell basic products such as mealie-meal, cooking oil, bread and milk in their vandalised shops.
Mr Mthokozisi Sibanda whose business was vandalised said he had started restocking and was hopeful of benefiting from the fund.
Residents in suburbs such as Pumula South, Entumbane and Emakhandeni had to travel to the CBD in order to buy basic commodities such as bread, an issue that had become very expensive for locals given the transport costs involved.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that 182 shops were affected and the assessment of damaged property so far stand at above $30 million and investigations are still underway.
Source - zbc
