SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
Political bickering has stalled the opening of the much-awaited Chidzere Flea Market in the central business district amid revelations political activists want a lion’s share of the more than 300 vending slots, Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi has said.
“We had anticipated that Chidzere Flea market would be operational by this week, but this has been delayed by serious polarisation of the project,” Tandi said.
Some Zanu PF members are reportedly demanding that they get a bigger chunk of the trading area as they are the party in government, while the MDC on the other hand is not taking it lying down.
The mayor said everything at the trading area was in place for it to be fully functional including toilets that had been repaired after years of neglect.
“It is saddening that people are bickering and not operating. They have been coming to council pleading for the city fathers to speed up regularisation of the place but now where are we?” Tandi asked.
The Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA) president, Itai Kariparire said he had hoped politics would not play out as people needed to just sell their wares and make a living.
“It is against our constitution that politics takes centre stage in our association. We remain apolitical in our dealings.
“We are Zimbabweans first and political animals later,’’ the outspoken MITA president said.
He added: “We have been saying it and will continue saying it that we do not have to bring political jackets to MITA and our trading areas. We are in business and as such we are businesspeople. This nonsense has to end so we can start trading.”
The Mutare Informal Traders Association has a membership of nearly 5 000 registered members, according to Kariparire.
Some other flea markets and trading areas have since been opened in parts of Sakubva, Chikanga, while plans are at an advanced stage to establish a permanent trading structure in the Dangamvura suburb.
