Story by Memory Chamisa
THE Government is forging ahead with the implementation of people-centered development programmes to accelerate the country’s transformation to an empowered, modern, prosperous, and highly industrialised society by 2030.
From the borehole sinking programme, construction of the temporary market to accommodate traders, and now the Presidential Vendors Fund launched this Friday, Musha Mukuru as Mbare is popularly known, has come out the biggest winner of the developmental trajectory being spearheaded by the Second Republic.
The Launch of the US$50 000 Presidential Vendors Fund is expected to uplift the livelihoods of vendors at zero percent interest.
For the beneficiaries, the initiative is set to ensure the competitiveness of their enterprises.
“His Excellency has shown that he loves us people from Mbare. The various programmes he has implemented have eased the challenges we have faced before from water, workspace, and now the vendors’ fund at zero interest for that matter we really appreciate him,” said one beneficiary of the programme.
“As youths, the President is on record saying go and make money and him providing us with the Vendors Fund has shown the confidence he has in us and this is going to make a huge impact and take youths away from drug and substance abuse,” added another.
“Mbare has been one of those places that have been frowned upon and associated with all society’s ills but since the coming of the Second Republic the narrative has changed from residential to the business side and we are grateful to the President for giving us that dignity,” noted a resident.
Handing over the fund to the ZANU PF leadership, Presidential Business Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara reaffirmed the governments’ commitment to spurring development in communities for the attainment of Vision 2030.
“The President is one leader who is committed to ensuring his people are prosperous from health, business-wise, and all the programmes he has implemented have ensured that livelihoods are sustained. Mbare has proved itself that it is a powerhouse and business evolves from here hence this fund will go a long way in ensuring vendors are capacitated and their businesses are sustained.
“We know the fire that gutted the market last year affected many but we now have to look forward to the completion of the temporary structure that will ensure wares are safe and vendors have a conducive place to sell their wares too. The President has said if this money is put to good use he is going to add another US$50 000 to make it US$100 000 in the Fund.
The ZANU PF leadership noted the significance of the fund in propelling the growth of the SME sector in Mbare.
“Our President has proved wrong naysayers by ensuring people are uplifted and empowered. All the programmes he has rolled out to communities are people-centred and Mbare has not been left out. This Fund has eased the burden and worry for vendors who lost their wares during last year’s fire. We thank the President for his visionary leadership which we will continue to support,” ZANU PF Harare Provincial Chairperson Cde Godwills Masimirembwa said.
“We are going to continue to work as a unit and ensure that everyone benefits from this fund as the President wants everyone to benefit from it and those who would have borrowed please ensure that you return it so that the next person benefits too. We applaud our President for this gesture that will not only capacitate vendors but ensure the viability of businesses as well as we all know Mbare is the home of SMEs,” added Dr Tungwarara.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record imploring Zimbabweans to diligently pursue industrial transformation and robust value chains for sustainable development and a competitive industrial base toward the attainment of an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
