The Sunday News
Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
THE Government has urged local authorities to expedite the process of allocating land for the construction of workspaces for small and medium enterprises.
Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of workspaces for informal traders in Mtapa suburb in Gweru on Thursday, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said local authorities should prioritise building vending stalls for informal traders, to bring sanity in the informal sector.
“I would like to encourage the council to speed up the process of allocation of land for the building of vending malls and factory shells meant to benefit those who are in the small and medium enterprises. The Government has put together resources meant for the construction of vending malls, but the only hindering factor is that local authorities have not given us the land to build from and this has affected the informal sector,” he said.
Minister Garwe said local authorities should prioritise informal traders as they are contributing immensely towards the nation economy.
“The informal sector contributes a lot towards the country’s economy therefore it should be prioritised. The local authorities are also urged to charge affordable rates so that traders fully pay their rentals,” he said.
Minister Garwe said the council should also build modern workspaces that are in line with global standards.
“We are also saying that local authorities must build workspaces that are modern and line with global standards. Most vendors have been operating in squalid conditions and this must come to an end. The Government will make sure that all informal traders operate in decent workplaces,’’ he said.
Minister Garwe also reiterated the call for local authorities to desist from allocating wetlands and protected lands to land developers for resale.
“We still continue to urge local authorities not to temper with wet lands or riverbeds when allocating land. Let’s follow correct procedures in selling of residential or commercial stands.”
Most informal traders across the country were left with nowhere to sell from as local authorities in most towns demolished vending stalls in a bid to bring sanity in towns.
