Gwanda informal traders cry over vending place

Informal traders in Gwanda have complained bitterly about the vending places the council is offering them for their businesses.

Raising issues to the Minister of Small, Medium sizes Enterprises and cooperative developments Mrs Sithembiso Nyoni in Gwanda recently, the vendors expressed extreme neglect by the council which levies them for substandard operational areas. According to the vendors, council allocates them open spaces in very dusty and mere open spaces compromising their operations. "We can no longer provide high quality goods and services operating from these extremely substandard places" said one vendor.

The traders have resorted to erecting plastic sharks on the sites to protect their wares from the weather and the dust creating an eyesore sight in the central business district of the town. Of major concern is one such flea market located right in front of the town's banking zones certainly compromising security at the banks as visibility is seriously impaired by the plastic structures.

Speaking to the vendors, Minister Nyoni assured the traders that her ministry will do its best to make sure that council provides the vendors with proper vending bays and up to standard with the trends found in other cities. Minister Nyoni castigated the Municipality for not prioritising the informal sector and instructed staff from her Ministry to follow up the issue with council and ensure council improves the structures.

Informal traders in Gwanda are always in sporadic cat and mouse wars with council over vending bays and licences.