Story by Abigirl Tembo
The Chesvingo Safe Market, established in Masvingo a few months ago, is providing a secure and comfortable environment for women to sell their wares.
The marketplace, launched this year, is a collaborative effort between government and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote women economic empowerment and decent work.
According to vendors, the marketplace has been a game-changer, providing them with a safe and secure space to conduct their businesses.
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“I used to sell outside the marker but it was very difficult since we were operating illegally because city council officials would always be chasing us. Most will be arrested but me will be pardoned because of my disability and because i will be in a wheelchair but now as you can see i am selling my wares in a pleasant, safe and comfortable environment and i am even making profits,” a vendor said.
“This is a good initiative and for me it’s easier because i have managed to secure a place for my child at the pre-school within this complex which is very affordable,” noted another.
Masvingo City Council Assistant Area Superintendent Justice Ganganeso noted that the marketplace has reduced the number of illegal vendors operating outside and has benefited the local community.
“This is called a one-stop centre, where we are having a flea market, we’ve got a crèche and also we’ve got a GBV centre. Whatever the crime that can happen within the market, it is easily reported to GBV, where they must have some counseling there and also we’ve got a crèche which is very close to the market, where the parents, the beneficiaries of this market can even have their children being taken care of while they are doing their business. In this market we’ve got 80 beneficiaries, but for the time being we’ve got 78 bays which are fully occupied and the two bays which are not occupied, they are reserved for those who are living with disability. So we’re just trying by all means to visit those areas where to those organisations of those people living with disability to have only two members to come and occupy those bays. So that is what is happening here.
“Most of the beneficiaries we have are women and we’ve got only four guys who are in here who are living with disability, and we’ve got youths as well who are also the beneficiaries. It was a very good achievement especially in Masvingo to have this safe market. It has also benefited our residents since we had an influx of illegal vendors outside the box, but now that we’ve got the market, we have reduced the number of illegal vendors who have been operating outside. So we’d like to thank the partnership which was done and we’d like to thank and also we want to also to have another development like this in our city if by chance,” he said.
The Chesvingo Safe Marketplace has 80 beneficiaries, predominantly women, and has set aside two bays specifically for persons with disabilities, demonstrating government and its partners’ commitment to empowering women and the vulnerable.
