Rapid development in Buhleni causes hunger - vendors
The news has been met with mixed reactions by some vendors. While some see the development as a positive sign of progress, some of the vendors expressed worry about the effects it will have on their businesses.
BUHLENI – In the rural town of Buhleni, the pace of progress is rapidly accelerating, bringing with it a tide of mixed feelings.
While development is generally seen as a sign of growth and prosperity, it has left about 30 local vendors in a state of uncertainty as they grapple with the sudden need to relocate their businesses.
For years, these vendors, whose identities remain undisclosed for ethical reasons, said that they had been making a living by selling a variety of goods around the town. However, the swift urbanisation of Buhleni, which has seen their makeshift marketplaces replaced with streets, has forced them to move their operations to different locations.
The directive to relocate came from a select committee purportedly responsible for overseeing the town’s activities.
Although the introduction of new streets is just the initial phase of Buhleni’s infrastructure development plan, it has already had a profound impact on the livelihoods, according to the vendors.
The vendors were reportedly asked to move their businesses to make way for the town’s expansion. The news has been met with mixed reactions by some vendors, who felt that they should have been consulted. While some see the development as a positive sign of progress, some of the vendors expressed worry about the effect it will have on their businesses.
Anonymity
One of the vendors, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the move, saying, “We understand that the town is growing, but what about us, the small business owners? We depend on our businesses to feed our families. We’re unsure of how the move will affect our sales and customer base.”
The vendor said the development had raised a critical question such as, “How can the progress of a town be balanced with the welfare of its residents?” He said this was despite that the infrastructure development undeniably brought about wider streets, better connectivity, and potentially more business opportunities, it also disrupted the livelihoods of those he said had been a part of Buhleni’s fabric for years.
He said this was a dilemma that the town’s administration will have to address. The displacement of these vendors underscores the need for careful planning and consideration, not just for the town’s physical development, but also for the welfare of its residents.
Ensure
“As Buhleni continues to stride forward, it must ensure that its progress does not leave its vendors, who are an integral part of its community, behind”, said a vendor.
It is not the first time vendors at Buhleni have complained about development. In the past,
It is not the first time vendors at Buhleni have complained about development.
the vendors had the same concern when the Buhleni Plaza was being constructed. They said they were being replaced such that they were forced to relocate to other places.
Transport operators also expressed similar concern adding that they had also been asked to drop off some of the vendors at the plaza, but they said this was not conducive for them as the humps there were too big for their vehicles. Also, they had expressed concern that there was no waiting area for the commuters to wait for the buses.
Noteworthy, His Majesty had previously declared that Buhleni should be a full-fledged town and a team, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was set up to ensure that this was done.
Pronouncement
The King had made the pronouncement during the tenure of Honourable Lindiwe Dlamini who was the Minister at the time. Dlamini is now the senate president. Since His Majesty’s pronouncement, there has been massive development in the town and even plots have now been divided and allocated. Also, a plaza, which is sometimes referred to as ‘the mall’ was also developed and is now functional. An additional filling station was also constructed.
About a week ago, His Majesty the King toured the projects in the town, including a theme park known as the Buhleni Fun City. The King also toured a state-ofthe-art police station which is also part of the development in the fast growing town.
Streets are also being constructed in the town and this is already changing the face of the rural community which only had one tarred road passing through.