Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
THE closure of the Bulawayo SME Centre housed at the OK Mart Complex has left about 60 small enterprises without workspace, severely crippling their productivity and threatening the livelihoods of many families.
The closure of the facility, due to rental disputes between tenants and the owner, Old Mutual, resulted in the occupants vacating the premises without properly planning for it.
One of the SMEs operating in the facility confirmed the development, saying she left before the centre was closed, adding that the rentals had been continually increased, affecting the viability of their operations.
“I moved out of the facility a month ago because the rent went up and the expenses became too high. I then heard the facility was closed due to rental disputes, as people were failing to pay rent.
“It’s sad because people are complaining, saying that after the facility was closed, they are failing to get proper workspace,” said Ms Juliana Mujuru.
“We had serious challenges with rent escalations from the landlord, Old Mutual; people then failed to pay/resistance to pay on time, leading to a huge accumulation of debt,” said Ms Mujuru.
The OKMart SMEs Centre in Bulawayo is a US$165 000 project that transformed a hazardous, makeshift shelter into an organised and safe workspace for 60 micro-enterprises.
Renovated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other stakeholders, the centre provided upgraded features like standard compartments, electricity, water and office equipment to help informal businesses formalise their operations.
Bulawayo Chamber of SMEs programmes coordinator Mr Nketa Mangoye Dlamini said the rentals had become unsustainable, resulting in accumulated debt, which prompted Old Mutual to close the facility.
The Bulawayo City Council facilitated service delivery and urban planning integration.
After the facility was renovated, UN Women, in partnership with ILO and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, commissioned the Maker Space Innovation Hub, accommodated at the SMEs centre to support women-led enterprises in the textile industry.
The facility features 12 specialised industrial sewing and textile machines worth US$30 000, allowing local women to use it for complex tasks like embroidery, button fixing and overlocking.
The initiative sought to help local dressmakers transition from informal operators into high-value-chain manufacturing.
The machines used by SMEs have since been evacuated following the closure of the facility.
Asked about the way forward for the Maker Space, Ministry of Women Affairs, Bulawayo provincial development officer Mrs Glory Damba said: “When we have a position, we will let you know. We are still working on it.”
The refurbishment of the SMEs centre transformed a makeshift and hazardous space into modern, designated industrial compartments.
The facility accommodated close to 60 formalised small-scale manufacturing and service units, providing access to a continuous power supply, adequate lighting, ablution facilities, security and dedicated digital equipment, including fully equipped computers to support all the needs of SMEs.
