Comesa financing Chirundu Traders Market Construction.
 

Elvis Dumba

Chirundu- Government has said it has prioritized the provision of Workspaces for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), through a whole-of-government approach, which involves Government, Local Authorities, the Private Sector and Development Partners in the country, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said after the first cabinet meeting of 2023.

"The nation will recall that having noted inefficiencies at the country`s border posts as a result of inadequate infrastructure, lack of automation and inadequate staffing, Cabinet resolved to modernize the ports of entry," she said

" Provision of Workspaces for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), a Whole-of-Government Approach, which involves Government, Local Authorities, the Private Sector and Development Partners has been adopted.  These are collaborating on renovating existing spaces and putting up new modern workspaces" she told the media.

Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that in Chirundu, the border town of Zimbabwe and Zambia, a trader`s market targeting to house 250 traders is being constructed.

" The Local government ministry is being supported by COMESA in constructing a trader`s market in Chirundu, under the Small-Scale Cross Border Initiative. The Chirundu Traders Market Workspace which is estimated to cost Euro 896 206 will accommodate 250 traders when complete." Cabinet was briefed, she said.

Currently in Chirundu there is no adequate work stations especially for small cross border traders with traders forced to trade their wares which include fruit and vegetables on open space grounds, fueling health risks in the Mashonaland West province`s border town.