Iminyela market a pale shadow of its former self

Musawenkosi Moyo  

AT first glance, one would not imagine that the empty space between Iminyela Hall and the Iminyela bottle store, now used as a walkway with graffiti-covered walls, was once a bustling market that attracted people from various suburbs throughout Bulawayo.

The market, located in the Iminyela suburb of Bulawayo, is said to have been operational since the early 1960s. It is now abandoned, and the vendors who once occupied the site, selling a variety of goods from vegetables to clothing, are nowhere to be found.

Sibusisiwe Moyo, who has been selling her goods at the market since 1981, said that the former market was large, with more than 50 vendors operating there at one time.

“This place was large and bustling with people buying and selling. It was well-known not only in Iminyela but also in Makokoba, Mabutweni, Mpopoma, Nkulumane, and other suburbs.

“When the market was still functioning and full of people, I would buy five crates of tomatoes in the morning, and by nightfall, they would all be gone. There was great business back then. Now, it takes me a whole week to sell just one crate of tomatoes,” she said.

Another former vendor at the market Tendai Sibanda, who sold at the market from 2000 until its decline, said that the market collapsed around 2020 during the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This made it difficult for vendors to sell their goods and for customers to purchase items.

“People left because of the lockdown, and during that time, the place was vandalised. People have not returned since. This place had night lights, and we would sell our goods until midnight. There were sheds occupied by people selling all kinds of goods, and there were water taps.  But now there is nothing. Everything was stolen, and the local authorities took away what was left. That is one of the reasons why people no longer sell here,” he said.

The market was not only a place to purchase goods but also a source of unity, bringing people from the community together.

“This place brought people together. Everyone knew each other, and we would help each other in any way we could, whether it was lending money to buy goods or providing a listening ear to share each other’s problems.

“It saddens me to see the state of the place now. Many people were able to build homes, and I was able to take care of my children because of that place. Now, it’s a constant struggle to sell my goods quickly and make a profit. I hope that one day I will see it return to its former glory,” added Sibanda.

A resident of Iminyela, Alice Moyo (42), said she also hopes that the place could be restored to its former state. She said she grew up buying from that market and it had always been a part of her life and the community. 

“The items sold there were also affordable, and we didn’t have to travel all the way into town to find what we needed. It was a convenient and cost-effective option for the local community,” she said.