adminPost Reporters
THE Mutare City Council has come to terms with over 1 000 vendors who were resisting relocation from Sakubva Flea Market to a new site in a beer hall in the high-density suburb.
The vendors, represented by the Sakubva Flea Market Business Association, had filed an ex-parte court application at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts resisting relocation.
Last Friday, the warring parties met at the civil courts where they agreed to engage and find an alternative vending area.
The vendors were represented by former Mutare City councillor, Ms Cecilia Gambe, who is the chairperson of the Sakubva Flea Market Business Association, while the municipality was represented by Mr Chris Ndlovu of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners.
They appeared before Mrs Yeukai Chigodora.
Hundreds of vendors flocked the civil courts to hear their case.
After a lengthy hearing, the local authority and the vendors agreed that instead of relocating to Murapa Tavern, the vendors will be relocated to the area between Red Cross and Mutare Aerodrome in Sakubva.
Among other things, they agreed that the occupation of the area shall be subject to the engagement of the Civil Aviation Authority by the municipality as the area falls under the aerodrome runway.
It was also agreed that the municipality will develop the identified area and put in place ablution facilities and other amenities for the vendors.
However, both parties will foot the cost of preparing the land and setting up stalls.
In the interim, the vendors will continue operating from the Sakubva Flea Market, but will vacate the place each time there are national events at Sakubva Stadium.
In their arguments to be relocated to the new site, the vendors argued that it would be unfair on the part of the local authority to block them from using part of the runway since Sakubva 1 High School and Elise Gledhill Secondary School staff quarters were closer to the aerodrome than the area they are proposing.
In an interview on Wednesday, Town Clerk, Mr Obert Muzawazi, said council had engaged the vendors in line with the policy of getting input from stakeholders.
He said after carefully reading into their concerns regarding the Murapa Tarven issue, the local authority saw it wise to look for an alternative site.
“Honestly, the area they proposed to us for relocation makes business sense and will adequately house them. However, they are several sticking points that need to be addressed before they go there.
“That area was reserved for the aerodrome, but it makes no sense to deny them occupation there since there are buildings and other sites that are closer to the runway than the vending area they want to occupy. First we need to consult the Civil Aviation Authority and map the way forward,” he said.
In refusing to go to Murapa Tarven, the vendors argued that the proposed beer halls were bad for business.
“Our investigations have established that council seeks to move our operations to council beer halls which were once operated by Pungwe Breweries. We have also established that these former beer halls are still operating as liquor outlets, but have since been pegged and demarcated for vending spaces.
“It defies common sense to think and propose that flea market vendors share space with liquor outlets, it is immoral. Some of our customers may find it hard on religious and moral grounds to visit beer halls either alone or with their children.”
Online Reporter