Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Renovations on the popular vegetable market ‘Banana Market’ in the light industrial site is nearing completion and is likely to benefit close to 500 vegetable vendors.
The works are being done by Chiredzi Town Council under the Urban Resilience Building Programme, where governments of Japan and Australia and their implementing partners World Food Programme (WFP) and Plan International injected US$ 43 000.
Chiredzi’s vegetable market, which was a ticking health time bomb due to lack of proper toilet system as well as running water has been a beneficiary from the funding set in order to improve food security and sustainable resilience capacities.
Chiredzi Town Council Acting Town Secretary Engineer Wesley Kauma said the project came at a time when the local authority was in dire need, with the funders installing a solar powered borehole as well as piped water scheme and vegetable shades that will accommodate both bulk vegetable sellers as well as retail vegetable sellers.
“We have a project called Urban Resilience Building Programme where governments of Japan and Australia are funding with the aid of their implementing partners, World Food Programme and Plan International covering eight wards in Chiredzi Town.
“The total funding is US$ 43 000 and main objective is to improve food security and sustainable resilience capacities. Chiredzi often experiences perennial droughts and of late, floods. There is also Cholera threats and Covid-19, so the programme is building resilience amongst the low income earners,” said Kauma.
The project is earmarked towards rehabilitation of the banana market, solar powered borehole and piped water scheme, poultry production, detergent production, hydroponics gardens and mushroom farming.
Engineer Kauma also highlighted that Plan International rehabilitated a market shed for vegetable retailers as well as a shed to accommodate wholesale vegetable vendors and piped water scheme.
“Plan International rehabilitated one market shed with a capacity to accommodate 150 vendors as well as a market shed for bulk vegetable sales that accommodates 50 traders. They also installed a solar powered borehole and constructed a piped water scheme including washing basin for vegetables.
“Chiredzi Town Council then constructed a new market shed and reconstructed the second shed, both with a capacity to accommodate 236 vendors,” said Kauma.
He also indicated that there are plans during the next phase of the programme to construct perimeter walls right round the markets so that trading is controlled and no person will be allowed to sleep inside the market as the premises will be locked after trading hours.
He also indicated that they intend to refurbish the existing structures and turn them into booking houses for long distance traders coming with their wares from different parts of the country.
