Funding constraints stall Harare projects

RYAN CHIGOCHE

The City of Harare’s multiple vending stalls have stalled due to the government’s failure to disburse devolution funds, mayor Jacob Mafume has said.

The vending stall along Seke Road vending market, commonly known as Coke Corner, which is expected to house between 1 000 and 1 600 informal traders,  was  scheduled to be commissioned in 2020. The project is 90% complete.

But,  no progress has been made.

Another stalled project  is the multi-million dollar complex at Shawasha Grounds in Mbare.

“The project stalled because we did not get money from the devolution funds to finish up the complex. The project was supposed to be finished under the devolution funds so in the new budget we are going to fund them ourselves as council. We will be looking for money to fund those markets,’’ Mafume said.

He added: ‘’We are going to sit with the committee to find out what are the new proposed dates for the completion of the projects which are dependent on the availability of funding. But we are keen to finish them before the close of the year,’’ he added.

Soon after the brutal demolitions of informal traders workspaces at Mupedzanhamo booths in Mbare and the Glenview 8 complex, among others last year, Harare announced plans to commission vending stalls in efforts to address the plight of informal traders.

However key vending stalls for which were supposed to be officially commissioned last year September have all stalled as the city has no funds.

At least 90% of rural and urban councils are now surviving on devolution money distributed by the government on a yearly basis, since revenue from ratepayers continues to decline for a variety of reasons.

On the back of depressed revenues, the city’s service delivery has been at its worst for some time as households have gone months without water, while ruptured sewer lines have gone for days without being fixed.

Uncollected waste has also become the norm in the central business districts and some neighbourhoods.