Francistown market vendors face a bleak future
Tenants given up to 31st May to leave
Francistown Central Market is set to be demolished by end of August 2021, Francistown Mayor, Godisang Radisigo told The Midweek Sun. He said that tenants of the central market at plot 371177 are given one month vacation notice of the stalls from the 29th April to the 31st May 2021 as per the notice of vacation issued on 4th May 2021.
According to the Mayor, the decision was taken by the 2004-2009 council after consulting with the tenants and currently a contract with the city council has been awarded to Amasa Civils (Pty) Ltd to develop the market after the previous company failed to meet the requirements.
“It is expected that the market shall be developed in two phases where there shall be shopping complexes, offices and the other part being the market itself,” Radisigo said.
Radisego said that currently the council has no plan regarding relocating affected tenants for them to continue their business but urged them to move to the bus rank and other places.
He said the tenants are currently not paying rent and have been occupying the space illegally, adding that there is no legal contract or lease with the 60 tenants.
According to the letter signed by Francistown Deputy Town Clerk Lawrence Mazinyane, the tenants shall disconnect all the utilities and services from their respective stalls and clear all the accrued bills that may be outstanding and submit proof of that to the the council.
During a meeting held on Tuesday this week by Central Ward Councillor Lilian Grismeir and attended by councillor Jojo Lucas among others, tenants expressed displeasure citing that they were not consulted at first and the council is disowning them during difficult times of Covid-19 pandemic.
Grismeir said she will take the matter to the full council which will be held today , and move their motion on the floor to request council to extend period of vacation as requested by the tenants.
Specially-elected councillor Lucas promised the tenants that they shall continue engaging other councillors to find an amicable way that favours citizen empowerment.
Francistown Market Association Chairperson Mogomotsi Moleele said they are very disappointed that Francistown council does not even consider finding them a place where they can operate from during the time of construction.
He added that no consultation has ever been done when planning the process of moving them out. This was confirmed by Deputy Chairperson of the association, Alufai Alufai who requested that the council allow them to operate from Central Park and other two parks next to central police station.
Moleele said the council should take responsibility and find them a place from where they can operate their businesses.
An elderly woman who has been running a business in the market since 2004, Rebecca Machinya said there are many educated youth in the market because of unemployment.
She said many will be anxious about their lives once they are no longer allowed to operate in the market. Machinya urged the city council to tread carefully, as their actions could lead some youth to commit crimes.