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Mnangagwa's govt fails to honour promises
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Traders who lost goods worth over US$20 million in a devastating fire at Mbare Musika last October are expressing frustration over the government's failure to fulfill its promises of interest-free loans to help them rebuild their businesses.
The fire, which reduced the livelihoods of more than 4,000 traders to ashes, left them struggling to regain their footing. Despite government assurances that assistance would be forthcoming, many traders have reported receiving no support.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe had initially claimed that the disaster was a "blessing in disguise," stating that it provided the government with an opportunity to build a modern market and ensure traders began paying taxes. However, nearly five months after the blaze, promises of help have remained unfulfilled.
Oscar Mwedzi, one of the affected traders, expressed his disappointment, saying, "We were expecting the government to support us, but we haven't received anything yet. I came back with a very small stock because I can't afford to sit at home. My family needs food."
Memory Chiguru, another fire victim, shared her frustrations with NewZimbabwe.com, recalling how government officials took down their details in the days following the fire, asking for information about their families, dependents, and the value of their lost goods. However, no assistance has materialized. "Since then, no support has come our way. I had to take out a loan from the bank to restart my business, and some relatives helped me," she said.
Efforts to reach Minister Garwe for comment were unsuccessful, and Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprise Minister Monica Mutsvangwa referred inquiries to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU). CPU Deputy Director Farai Hokonya stated that government officials would visit the new market next week and provide an update on the situation.
In the meantime, traders are raising concerns about the registration and allocation of vending stalls at the new Mbare Musika market. A recent list of stall allocations published in a state-owned newspaper has been criticized for containing numerous errors, and there are allegations that the list is dominated by Zanu-PF supporters, many of whom were not affected by the October fire.
Denford Ngadziore, the chairperson of the City of Harare Small and Medium Enterprise Committee, clarified that the council holds responsibility for allocating vending spaces at the new market. This announcement signals a potential clash between local authorities and the government over who controls the allocation process. Ngadziore emphasized that the allocation would prioritize traders who lost goods in the fire.
"The council is the one that enjoys the responsibility to allocate space to traders, not the government. Any allocation by anyone else will be illegal. The allocation will prioritize those who lost goods in the fire last year," he said.
The completion of the new Mbare Musika market is expected to have significant implications for Zimbabwe's economy, given its importance as a major hub for trade. However, the ongoing issues surrounding support for affected traders and the allocation of stalls highlight the challenges facing the government's recovery efforts.
The fire, which reduced the livelihoods of more than 4,000 traders to ashes, left them struggling to regain their footing. Despite government assurances that assistance would be forthcoming, many traders have reported receiving no support.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe had initially claimed that the disaster was a "blessing in disguise," stating that it provided the government with an opportunity to build a modern market and ensure traders began paying taxes. However, nearly five months after the blaze, promises of help have remained unfulfilled.
Oscar Mwedzi, one of the affected traders, expressed his disappointment, saying, "We were expecting the government to support us, but we haven't received anything yet. I came back with a very small stock because I can't afford to sit at home. My family needs food."
Memory Chiguru, another fire victim, shared her frustrations with NewZimbabwe.com, recalling how government officials took down their details in the days following the fire, asking for information about their families, dependents, and the value of their lost goods. However, no assistance has materialized. "Since then, no support has come our way. I had to take out a loan from the bank to restart my business, and some relatives helped me," she said.
In the meantime, traders are raising concerns about the registration and allocation of vending stalls at the new Mbare Musika market. A recent list of stall allocations published in a state-owned newspaper has been criticized for containing numerous errors, and there are allegations that the list is dominated by Zanu-PF supporters, many of whom were not affected by the October fire.
Denford Ngadziore, the chairperson of the City of Harare Small and Medium Enterprise Committee, clarified that the council holds responsibility for allocating vending spaces at the new market. This announcement signals a potential clash between local authorities and the government over who controls the allocation process. Ngadziore emphasized that the allocation would prioritize traders who lost goods in the fire.
"The council is the one that enjoys the responsibility to allocate space to traders, not the government. Any allocation by anyone else will be illegal. The allocation will prioritize those who lost goods in the fire last year," he said.
The completion of the new Mbare Musika market is expected to have significant implications for Zimbabwe's economy, given its importance as a major hub for trade. However, the ongoing issues surrounding support for affected traders and the allocation of stalls highlight the challenges facing the government's recovery efforts.
Source - newzimbabwe
