New market for Gwanda
Thandeka Matebesi
Vendors in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, who lost their previous trading spaces and posts due to the COVID-19 pandemic have pooled resources and constructed a new market.
The new food market will be selling perishables such as fruits and vegetables among other products and will accommodate 315 informal traders.
Gwanda Residents Association Secretary for youth Wellington Nare said that vendors who had been relocated from various spots in the CBD came together to construct the long desired market.
“The market was constructed by the Gwanda Vendors Association. Vendors who had been affected by COVID-19 issues were relocated from the CABS building market and other markets in the Gwanda Central Business District including the Cooland market and Taxis Rank market pooled resources together to ensure the completion of the market”, said Nare.
Construction commenced last year and it took six months to complete the construction of the new structure.“After Council approved the site, a committee was then set up and vendors combined resources to construct the market,” added Nare.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Director Michael Ndiweni expressed joy at the Gwanda vendors’ huge breakthrough and commended the work being done by vendors in Gwanda. He said concerted efforts were underway to cement relations between the two organisations.
“So far we are still building relations with vendors and informal traders from Gwanda. We are coming in to offer mentorship programs in the form of capacity building on advocacy issues. We are also helping them with COVID-19 fighting materials to keep market places safe”, said Ndiweni
