Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Municipal Correspondent
CHEMHANZA Market Complex in Harare is taking shape, with the facility expected to accommodate more than 4 000 traders and provide a formal trading space for vendors currently operating at Glen View Area 8 Home Industry.
Significant progress has been recorded at the complex, with 18 blocks already in place, drainage works completed and the perimeter fence nearing completion.
Harare City Council Small and Medium Enterprises Committee chairperson Councillor Denford Ngadziore said the project was receiving support from Government and development partners, with efforts now focused on completing outstanding infrastructure and preparing the facility for occupation.
“We have made much progress at Chemhanza,” he said.
“We have received a donation of an ablution facility from the Minister of Local Government through the CPU department.
“We also received another donation from Dialogue on Shelter, which is supposed to build another ablution facility, and it will cost around US$30 000.”
He said the drainage system for the entire site had also been completed, while fencing works are progressing.
“We have also done the drainage system for the whole Chemhanza ground,” he said.
“The perimeter fence for the whole area has been installed. This is the front side and currently they are now working on the other side. So we hope to complete fencing the whole area in the next few days to come.”
The council is also preparing to commence construction of an admission block that will accommodate market administration offices and a security entrance.
“In the next few days, we are supposed to start building an admission block, which is going to house market divisions and also the security entrance,” said Cllr Ngadziore.
The complex is expected to provide considerably more space than the existing Glen View Area 8 Home Industry.
“We have close to 18 blocks, which are going to accommodate about 4 000-plus traders,” said Clr Ngadziore.
“As you are aware, traders at the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry are a bit less than 4 000. So, this is actually a bigger working space, which is going to accommodate all traders at the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry, including other traders who want to trade.”
The development comes as authorities seek to provide organised trading spaces while addressing challenges associated with informal trading in the capital.
Cllr Ngadziore said the council was also engaging the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to assist some traders who had recently returned from South Africa and were seeking to resume their trade.
“We also have an engagement with CPU to assist maybe one or two people who recently came from South Africa,” he said.
Traders operating through the council’s Market Division are required to register as SMEs and pay US$10 annually.
However, the council is considering a waiver for the returning traders as part of efforts to assist them to settle back into business.
“Each trader is supposed to pay US$10 as a yearly registration, but because we want to assist those few people who came from South Africa, we are going to have a meeting so that we can also have a waiver,” he said.
The complex will also include a restaurant and canteen area, providing additional services and potential business opportunities within the market.
“On-site, we are also going to come up with a restaurant and canteen area where those people are going to also make sure that they have enough space for them to buy their foodstuffs,” said Clr Ngadziore.
