adminMunicipal Reporter
THREE years down the line from the scheduled opening, Harare City Council is still to complete the construction of the much-hyped giant market along Seke Road and next to the huge Graniteside industrial area that is set to accommodate between 1 000 and 1 600 traders.
The critical project only needs a few touch-ups, but has been getting almost zero attention from the city council considering the huge demand for working space in the city.
Even several tours by stakeholders including Government and council officials at the corner of Seke Road and Vitalis Zvinavashe Road (Dieppe Road), commonly referred to as the Coke Corner, over the years is yet to yield any positive results.
A visit by The Herald showed that nothing had changed as there was no work going on at the market which was initially set to open in mid-2019.
In fact, the situation has worsened with weeds having spread across the place.
In March 2020, then city spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme indicated that completion depended on the developments on Covid-19 while early this year he said lack of funds was stalling the project.
When contacted on June 28 last year, Mr Chideme sang the same hymn that “resources were being mobilised for completion”.
In 2022 it is almost the same script of complaints without any tangible structure with the current city spokesperson Mr Innocent Ruwende also apportioning blame on lack of funds.
“We are currently mobilising the required materials mainly electrical which are required to complete the job.
“We are moving on site to complete the project which is more than 80 percent complete,” he said.
The vendors at the site are operating from makeshift stalls made of plastic and wood, which expose them and their customers to the vagaries of the weather.
Over the construction period the site has been housing multiple functions.
Driving schools have invaded the place, using it for conducting lessons while apostolic sect members have also turned part of the area into a “holy” shrine.
Informal traders operating at the site blamed the council for taking a laid-back approach in completing the structure.
“We have been operating here for years now and since the council promised to construct the stalls, nothing has materialised,” said Mr Tinashe Kusengwa.
Mrs Tariro Kufanesu said during the rainy season, they always have a torrid time at the temporary sheds.
She said they are always pinning their hopes on the completion of the market.
Online Reporter