…as natural resource governance matters takes center stage
Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET), on Wednesday the 20th of September, convened the Goromonzi Stakeholder Engagement at the Rural District Council offices in Ruwa. The meeting which was organised under the Accountability Lab Zimbabwe supported CivActs project, brought together essential stakeholders in the informal economy ecosystem
The meeting brought together informal traders from Wards 16, 17, 19 and 13 and their Councillors, the District Development Coordinator, and Goromonzi Rural District Council (GRDC) officials to deliberate on issues that emerged from listening meetings and surveys conducted in past project cycles, as well as learn from successes and failures.
Mary Nyadome, a Community Frontline Ambassador (CFA) for VISET, hailed the construction of ablution facilities at the Majuru shopping centre, the harmonious interactions that now exist with the GRDC officials and governments ministries, remarking that it was ground-breaking that the meeting was being convened at the RDC offices.
Darlington Mutakura, another VISET CFA, revealed that from his personal perspective, the CivActs project assisted him in public speaking, capacity building and exposure, as he has been privileged to also visit other wards in the District, which helped to get exposure. These experiences equipped him with the confidence to run as an independent candidate in the just ended harmonised elections.
Darlington also spoke on the issue of dust emissions from trucks transporting lithium ore, saying as informal traders they bear the brunt of these emissions, as their market stalls are sited near the road. He urged the RDC to move with speed with the process of allocating traders at the new market.
He also revealed that the community is aggrieved with factory shells that were constructed by government in the 80’s, which have now been allegedly taken over by a politically exposed person who was now letting out the property to flea market operators.
The lack of water at Majuru shops was also a cause of concern for the community considering the volume of traffic at the centre.
A representative of the Platinum Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) mine noted the concerns raised with regards dust emissions, saying there are plans to have a tarred road from Majuru to the mine, however the company was still mobilising resources, bearing in mind that it was just over a year since the company acquired the mine. They would be engaging with the community with regards climate change mitigation strategies.
On behalf of the GRDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zvobgo urged informal traders operating at Majuru to emulate their Ward 19 counterparts who were highly organised under a single association, which makes coordination with the RDC easier. He also revealed that much as they have reduced daily operating fees to $0.50, there was a low compliance rate.
Zvobgo pledged to ensure the speedy completion of by-law reform with the input of all stakeholders.
Mrs. Dube, the District Development Coordinator (DDC) for Goromonzi, pledged to assist in getting to the bottom of the matter involving confiscation of factory shells. She also assured that her office was open to assist informal traders on any issue, as long as they organised themselves into a single entity.
Councillor Bhachi of Ward 17 welcomed the opportunity to interact with traders, urging them to harness their collective power to ensure they amplify their voices on development aspirations.
Edward Kapodogo of VISET expressed appreciation for the collaboration that the CivActs project has received in Goromonzi, saying they would continue with the work of celebrating public servants that executed their day to day duties diligently.
