Women-friendly market for Epworth

Leroy Dzenga

The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has set up a gender-friendly market in Epworth, a dormitory town about 10 kilometres west of the Harare’s central business district.
The market, which is in the final stages of completion, has play spaces for children, restricted spaces of entry and exit to avoid overcrowding, as well as secure selling cubicles.
Speaking at a belated International Women’s Day celebrations held by Hope of Adolescents recently, the provincial development officer (Harare) for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mr Ernest Chimbodza, gave an update on the project situated at Overspill Shopping Centre.
“The market will be a sample market which we expect to be replicated across the country. It is structured in a way that will ensure that women are safe as they go about their business, be it selling or buying,” Mr Chimbodza said.
Crowded marketplaces like Copa Cabana have been notorious for ills like catcalling and sometimes molestation of women, and women-friendly markets have been created as a direct response.
Authorities are going the extra mile to ensure that potentially regrettable incidences are minimised.
“We are in the process of installing adequate lights to ensure that the market is well lit at all times. Perpetrators in the past have been known to take advantage of darkness and we want to deal with that,” said Mr Chimbodza.
Local authorities have been urged to replicate the model.
During the engagement, youths who work with Hope for Adolescence and Youth who were in attendance asked for the ministry to reserve some space for young people at such markets.
Tsitsi Masvusvu (21) of Hopley said in her area, a place called Kwa Anthony has seen girls as young as 14 venture into commercial sex work.
“Maybe if we have youth spaces at these markets, some of the young girls who have ventured into commercial sex work will have another option to pursue. These markets are a good idea but they have to be inclusive of young people and Government should assist with capital if possible,” Masvusvu said.
Women constitute a greater percentage of those involved in the informal sector and government is moving in to ensure that the spaces in which they work is safe.