Informal traders urged to decongest CBD
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association executive director Mr Michael Ndiweni has
reiterated the need for informal traders to decongest the central business district and
utilise facilities in various suburbs.
Mr Ndiweni said the city has several decent shopping malls in areas such as Nkulumane,
Entumbane and Cowdray Park.
“We have been unequivocal that the local authority must designate sites to eliminate
such conflicts, and informal traders need to embrace disruptive ideas around
decongestion of the CBD, creating new business hubs in townships,” he said.
“There are decent facilities in malls like Nkulumane, Entumbane or Cowdray Park.
Entities such as banks, big supermarkets, fast food outlets, and money transfer agents
must be encouraged or incentivised by private property owners working with the
Government to move ‘back’ to these areas.
“Informal traders also should not agree to be abused by space barons who appear to
foment and encourage some unsuspecting informal traders to trade from undesignated
sites through extorting reportedly US$1 per day promising them protection while
creating a mess and conflicts in the city.”
Mr Ndiweni said established businesses should introduce packages that will attract
informal players to buy from them in the process expand their client base.
The growth of the informal sector has left legal businesses feeling the heat as some sell
their products in front of established shops which has created a stiff competitive
environment.
This has resulted in many legal businesses being closed hence a need to create packages
that suit the informal players.
“The closing of established shops can be attributed to macro-economic challenges, the
decline of formal jobs leading to increased informal businesses who ordinarily don’t
meet the requirements to open accounts,” said Mr Ndiweni.
“Our view is that there is a need for shops like Edgars to tailor its packages to be also
attractive to informal economy workers because this is our new reality.”
He said this following the closure of the clothing chain store Edgars opposite Tredgold
building in Bulawayo.
The informal sector has since been growing as many people try to make ends meet but
representatives of the sector are saying that the growth of the sector should not
contribute to the downfall of established businesses.
Edgars closes Retail Outlet
The initiative to introduce packages for the informal sector seems to be gaining
momentum as some organisations have already started to engage stakeholders on such
issues.
The National Social Security Authority recently announced that they are introducing
informal sector schemes, which will provide services to the informal players suitable for
their kind of business and income.
The idea has been positively welcomed by small and medium enterprises representatives
and will allow informal players to plan for their retirement. — The Chronicle
