Kwekwe vending market a health time bomb: Mayor

Midlands Bureau

Kwekwe Mayor Angeline Kasipo yesterday warned that the city’s farmers’ market in Mbizo was becoming a health hazard and could be a Covid-19 epicentre due to crowding.

She told a full council meeting recently that there were no ablution facilities at the crowded Mbizo 2 market where all vendors were relocated.

She said the place was too small to accommodate the crowds that were now flocking to the market place and the local authority could have its hands full since it was sitting on a health time bomb.

“I do not know why the farmers market was relocated to Mbizo 2 from Mbizo 4 because that area is very crowded now and I am not sure if there are adequate ablution facilities to cater for such big crowds which are now at Mbizo 2. We need to do something as the local authority if we are to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the area. It’s just a health time bomb and we need to address the situation,” she said.

City’s assistant Health director, Mr John Bandama admitted the city was sitting on a health time bomb, adding that the place was not suitable for vending markets.

“On June 30, a decision was made to move the farmers market from Mbizo 4 to Mbizo 2. The movement was abrupt and there was no planning that was done.

“Initially we had agreed with the district Covid-19 taskforce to establish four vending sites, that is, in Mbizo 4, 2, 7 and 16 but like I said the movement was abruptly enforced by the members of the Joint Operations Command and the people are now crowded at one place, posing a health hazard,” he said.

Mr Banda said there was need to establish ablution faculties as a matter of urgency at Mbizo 2 vending market.

“It’s a health issue, which needs urgent attention if we are to avoid disease outbreak. We also need these vendors since they are contributing a lot in terms of revenue,” he said.