Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
CONSTRUCTION has officially begun on the long-awaited Sakubva Industrial Hub, with significant progress already visible at the temporary Green Market site near Quest Motors.
The modern hub, set for commissioning in November 2026, is being hailed as a milestone development that will transform the trading environment for informal traders and small-scale entrepreneurs who have endured overcrowded and dilapidated conditions for decades.
Once complete, the project is expected to reshape Sakubva into a more organised and efficient trading zone, creating a sustainable commercial ecosystem that supports enterprise growth while safeguarding community livelihoods.
It dovetails with national development goals of enhancing infrastructure, formalising the informal economy, and empowering small businesses.
Mutare Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka, recently confirmed that work is progressing steadily on both the relocation site near Quest Motors and the broader redevelopment partnership with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).
The collaboration is driving the transformation of the old Murahwa People’s Green Market into a modern micro-industrial and commercial hub.
“Construction of the relocation site is well underway. This will accommodate traders, while the new Sakubva Industrial Hub and Green Market are being built,” said Mr Chafesuka.
The Sakubva Industrial Hub is widely anticipated to usher in a new era of economic upliftment for Mutare, positioning the city as a model for inclusive urban development and small-enterprise empowerment.
“We are currently constructing the relocation site where we will put our traders pending the construction of the new Green Market. We will relocate them there. We have a partnership with NSSA. The money has already been disbursed, and we are expecting that in November 2026, we will be commissioning the new site for SMEs at the Green Market,” he said.
The Town Clerk stressed that the success of the project hinges on collective commitment and a mindset shift among residents.
“No one else will build the City of Mutare except us. We have the land and the resources, so we should develop a positive mindset. We cannot be defeated as our destination is in our hands. A country is built by its people. Soon millionaires will be coming out of the Sakubva Industrial Hub,” he said.
His remarks echoed NSSA’s earlier statement highlighting the redevelopment of the Sakubva Industrial Hub as one of its key national interventions.
NSSA said the project is designed, not only to boost economic activity, but also to promote green business models in line with sustainable development expectations.
“NSSA is working on various initiatives aimed at the financial inclusion of SMEs and other players active in the informal economy. In Mutare, we are partnering with the City Council to construct Sakubva Shopping Mall; to build and run a green market micro-industrial hub for SMEs,” said NSSA.
The authority has described the Mutare project as a flagship demonstration of how urban renewal, environmental redesign and informal sector empowerment can intersect meaningfully.
NSSA was still to respond to questions sent to them at the time of going to print.
For traders at the old Green Market, long accustomed to congested walkways, leaking stalls and facilities that no longer meet modern operating standards, the progress at the temporary site near Quest Motors has brought a renewed sense of anticipation.
Many see the relocation as a necessary step towards a better trading environment even before the main hub opens.
In an interview, Mutare Informal Traders Association president, Mr Itai Kariparire, said the association is pleased with the progress at the temporary site.
“As leaders, we have been closely monitoring developments at the temporary site, and progress has been going well. It is a transparent process, and we are kept informed of every advancement. The toilets have already been constructed, the roads are being graveled, and bricks for pavements and drainages are already on site. We are now waiting for the finalisation so that our traders can be relocated,” said Mr Kariparire.
He also urged those intending to be allocated shops at the new industrial hub to apply directly through the council rather than through associations.
“We are encouraging people to submit their applications through the housing director to ensure proper allocation at the new industrial hub. MITA or Green Market will not allocate these shops, only the council will. This must be clear: no allocation will be made without an official application,” he said.
Green Market chairman, Mr Earnest Muchakuya said they are awaiting relocation as traders.
“They have been meeting their timelines and we are glad that the ablution facilities at the relocation site are much better than the ones we have here. Council has assured us that it is taking everything into consideration in terms of resources and everything when it comes to our relocation. They are engaging us and we are happy about that. At the end of the day, what we want is a decent place to work from,” he said.
In an interview, Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) territorial president, Ms Benita Goneso, said traders were encouraged by the progress they had witnessed at the temporary relocation site.
“We hope council will be fair in allocating shops to traders who have applied. The developments are moving in the right direction, and we trust they will continue as we await the commissioning of the new industrial hub,” she said.
The relocation site is being upgraded with paved surfaces, improved drainage, modern ablution facilities, and a structured waste-management system — measures designed to resolve long-standing sanitation challenges that plagued the old market.
Once traders are settled at the temporary site, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and the City of Mutare will commence full-scale redevelopment of the Green Market.
The project is expected to create jobs, modernise informal trading infrastructure, and position Mutare as a model for urban market transformation, ushering in a new era of organised and sustainable commerce.
