Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau
MARONDERA Municipality has completed the construction of a vendors’ market, a development aimed at ensuring that traders operate from designated, dignified and modern facilities in the town.
At the same site, the council has also established a rank for commuter omnibuses to cater for local commuters.
The market accommodates about 180 vendors, with more beneficiaries expected to be accommodated during the next phase of the project.
The council has also constructed ablution facilities at the site, and plans are already underway to ensure the availability of potable water.
The facility was commissioned by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East, Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, at a function attended by Government officials and members of the community.
Adv Ndudzo commended the municipality for the development.
“This is an extraordinary facility and a proud testimony to what determined local leadership and councils can achieve. I can say with confidence that the Municipality of Marondera has not merely built a market; it has created a landmark of dignity, order, cleanliness and hope right in the heart of our community.
“For far too long, our small-scale entrepreneurs have been exposed to the unpredictable effects of the weather, with scorching heat, heavy rains and difficult conditions forcing honest traders to endure hardships instead of focusing on their businesses. Many have operated in spaces never intended for commerce and have often had to contend with disorder and uncertainty.
“Today, that story changes. Today, we restore dignity to honest trade. We replace uncertainty with shelter and improvisation with proper planning and infrastructure,” said Adv Ndudzo.
He said the new First Street Market provides facilities conducive to dignified business operations for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“This market that we witness today restores confidence among our vendors and SMEs through secure trading bays, proper sanitation facilities and access to clean water.
“These are not luxuries; they are necessities. In the same way that clean water nourishes the body, proper facilities nourish business,” he said.
Adv Ndudzo said the establishment of the market was proof that no place and no one was being left behind in the development agenda.
“Today is an important milestone for urban governance, economic empowerment and infrastructure development in Marondera. It speaks directly to the people-centred development philosophy of the Second Republic.
“The guiding mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ is not merely a slogan. It is a promise demonstrated through practical action. Today’s commissioning is a living example of what it means to include vendors, uplift SMEs and improve municipal service delivery.
“Let us also be clear about the challenge this market addresses. Informal trading has long expanded into areas where it creates disorder, safety risks and sanitation challenges within the central business district.
“The First Street Market is a decisive intervention. It does not merely identify problems but provides practical solutions. It creates a home for traders while helping restore order, safety and hygiene in the CBD.
“I urge all stakeholders to embrace this facility with a sense of ownership and discipline. Let us not allow it to become a neglected white elephant. Let us safeguard it, utilise it and protect the investment made on behalf of the people.”
In his remarks, Marondera Mayor Councillor Chengetai Murova said the development signified the council’s commitment to urban order and development.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our pursuit of city status, with our application currently under review by the parent ministry under the able leadership of the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe.
“The commissioning of this market demonstrates our readiness for that status, signifying our evolution and commitment to urban order and inclusive growth.
“I want to emphasise that this project is not a mere coincidence. It was conceived with intention and purpose and is aligned to our local authority’s development frameworks, including the Minimum Service Delivery Standards and the Call to Action: No Compromise to Service Delivery, as championed by President Mnangagwa,” said the mayor.
“The President has challenged us, as local authorities, to be proactive and responsive, focusing on services that genuinely affect people’s lives and delivering them without compromise.
“The First Street Market stands as one of many direct responses initiated by our council in line with that directive. It also directly addresses the ministerial call to curb illegal vending practices, demonstrating that we are not seeking to displace vendors but to provide them with a better alternative.”
Marondera Residents Open Forum director Mr Tapiwa Chengeta applauded the municipality for the development.
“This important development marks a significant milestone in the continued transformation of Marondera into a modern, orderly and service-oriented city. The establishment of the new market and the accompanying rank introduces a new dimension to the town’s commercial and public transport infrastructure.
“MAROF welcomes this development as more than simply the construction of physical infrastructure. It represents an opportunity to redefine how commerce, public transport, informal trading and municipal services are organised and managed within Marondera.”
Meanwhile, Adv Ndudzo commissioned four buses for civil servants as Government continues to improve working conditions for public sector employees.
The buses are part of Government initiatives aimed at improving working and living conditions for civil servants.
Adv Ndudzo challenged beneficiaries to use the buses responsibly.
He said Government remains committed to improving working conditions for its employees.
