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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
INFORMAL traders yesterday told Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube that vending bays being constructed at Egodini are too small and may find no takers, making the project a white elephant.
Terracotta Trading Private Limited (TTPL) won a US$60 million tender to construct Egodini Mall in 2015 and works were supposed to commence in 2016.
The project has had several false starts and had missed completion deadlines as well.
The company is constructing vending bays that are 1,5 metres by 90 centimetres against 1,5m by 2m which vendors claim they were promised.
Yesterday Minister Ncube and members of the Joint Operations Command conducted an assessment of work being done at Egodini Mall.
In the meeting it was confirmed that TTPL will miss the December 1 deadline which it had set to open up a taxi rank and operating space for informal traders, under phase one of the project.
Construction of toilets, which is a precursor for the opening of the first phase, of the project is far from completion with brickwork for the ablution facilities only at window level.
Leaders of informal traders told officials that the vending bays that have been constructed were too small and not ideal for their operations.
Egodini project administrator Mr Thando Moyo could not provide assurance of when the first phase of the project would be completed.
He said roofing material for the construction of the taxi rank was in South Africa.
Mr Moyo said toilets were still being constructed and they are yet to lay tarmac on the taxi rank runway although materials had been procured.
Tempers almost flared during the meeting as the vendors claimed that their concerns were not being taken aboard.
Minister Ncube had to calm the situation highlighting that the project needs a buy-in from all interested stakeholders.
“We are here to assist each other, you are part of us, we are part of you. This is not for you but Bulawayo community. We want it to be clear as per your design but there are some suggestions that have been put across and can you take note of that,” said Minister Ncube.
“Go and sit down with partners and see if it is feasible. If not what are you recommending. There are those who are representing informal traders, let’s engage and have a buy-in, we need it as a country.”
She said the contractor has to be realistic with deadlines and works on the ground shows that they cannot open the place next month.
Minister Ncube bemoaned the slow pace in which the project was moving.
“We are so thankful that we have seen what is being done, work is progressing but very slow maybe because of certain factors. We were not here to see vending stalls, we were here to assess the whole project and how it is progressing so that we can make decisions. Do we agree with you that come month end, we can allow kombis and informal traders to come in? The truth is no we are not yet ready,” said Minister Ncube.
She said there is no way that kombis and informal traders can be moved on site without completion of toilets.
Bulawayo Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises chairperson Mr Dumisani Ncube said contractors have ignored informal traders’ concerns.
“To us it is more of a demotion rather than a promotion because when we were looking at the Egodini Project it was supposed to upgrade people from the streets to where they can be accommodated. Unfortunately, when the vending stalls are so small, it becomes a challenge to us as to how do we explain to the members because this would be a demotion,” said Mr Ncube.
He said the vending specifications that were promised to vendors were not delivered.
“To our surprise when we went for our first visit in August, we raised an alarm that the vending bays were very small. But they have continued to build similar structures. It is more of betrayal; we were expecting that they should listen to the recommendation of what the vending associations said,” said Mr Ncube.
He said failure to meet vendors’ expectations might result in some of them abandoning the bays and returning to the streets which will not be good for the city.
Another vendors’ association leader, Mr Vincent Donga said the tour allowed informal traders concerns to be heard.
“I think the truth is coming out that this is not what we agreed relating to the bays of informal traders. We have been requesting a meeting between Terracotta and the City Council but no one wants to listen to us,” said Mr Donga.
He said as vendors’ leaders they are becoming unpopular for telling the truth.
Representing the Bulawayo Upcoming Traders Association Mr Tyson Dube said there is a need to redesign the vending bays.
He said phase one of Egodini project will not be complete without redesigning of the bays.
“I don’t know if it is safe to speak about implementation without considering the revisiting of those informal traders’ bays. We are saying they should be redesigned because they cannot accommodate them. What we promised the people when we moved out of there is not what you have given to the people,” said Mr Dube.
“If you talk about implementation, we would have betrayed those people. We stand to be insulted by those we represent. So, we can’t talk of implementation and push for the 1st of December without you telling us and assuring us that you will redesign those places.”
Acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, closing the meeting, said council will work towards coming up with a project that will work for Bulawayo. -@nqotshili
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