BCC resolves to permanently close 5th Ave market

Bulawayo City Council has resolved to permanently close the 5th Avenue vegetable trading market, citing the need to enhance urban planning, improve safety, and support sustainable business growth. The market, spanning from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street to Robert Mugabe Way, has long been a source of contention, with ongoing conflicts between municipal authorities and traders accused of operating illegally.

The latest council report outlines a phased approach to disbanding the site and relocating vendors to alternative workspaces. According to the Director of Town Planning, Mr. Wisdom Siziba, the decision aligns with the city's MSMEs Resilience and Sustainability Strategy, which prioritizes proper land use, infrastructure development, and the provision of decent workspaces for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The council highlighted significant operational risks at the 5th Avenue market as the primary reason for its closure. Despite prior engagements with the Bulawayo MSMEs Working Group, which proposed alternative solutions, the council has decided to proceed with the disbandment.

Starting in 2025, no trading licenses will be renewed for vendors operating at the site. Instead, the council plans to develop safe workspaces at the Bhakta's site, a designated trading area intended to accommodate a variety of MSMEs, including vendors of fruits, vegetables, clothing, and other goods.

Priority for Bhakta's site allocation will be given to traders licensed for 2024 operations along 5th Avenue, followed by those who held licenses before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Should this list prove insufficient, consideration will be given to unlicensed traders operating at the site.

The closure of the 5th Avenue market has been a long-standing issue. In June 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the council shut down the open-air market as part of measures to curb the virus's spread. However, vendors defied the order, expanded their operations, and effectively took over the road, blocking vehicular access.

In February 2023, the council reversed its decision to close the site, yielding to pressure from traders who continued to operate despite the ban. Attempts to regulate the area by introducing proper vending bays were also ignored by the informal traders.

The situation on 5th Avenue has since deteriorated, with chaotic scenes of pushcarts, street vendors, and crowded queues. Vendors sell everything from fresh produce to second-hand clothing, cooked food, groceries, and even goods displayed from car boots. Illegal activities, including the sale of unregulated alcoholic beverages and drugs like marijuana, have also been reported.

The council expressed alarm over the lack of hygiene at the site, warning of potential public health hazards. The unregulated trading environment has exacerbated challenges in maintaining order and cleanliness in the area, further necessitating the market's closure.

By relocating vendors and reopening 5th Avenue to vehicular traffic, the council aims to restore order and promote sustainable urban development. "The Bhakta's site will ensure a balance among the needs of traders while fostering a cleaner, safer environment for business," the report noted.

This resolution marks another attempt by the city to address long-standing challenges with informal trading while prioritizing structured development and the health and safety of Bulawayo's residents. The council's commitment to implementing the phased relocation plan will be closely watched in the months ahead.