Ex-BCC workers resist eviction notices
FORMER Bulawayo City Council (BCC) employees who were recently served with eviction notices to vacate council rented properties in Makokoba have resisted the move arguing that they have housing files and certificates of occupation granted by the local authority.
Council-owned accommodation is offered at subsidised rates by the local authority to its employees and previously it has been a source of disgruntlement among employees amid allegations that some sublet the properties at higher rentals, prejudicing other employees who would be desperate for accommodation.
Last Month, councillors passed a resolution to serve eviction notices to 127 former council employees at the Bulawayo Municipal security compound in Makokoba after it emerged that out of 142 units within the Bulawayo Municipal security compound just 15 were occupied by serving employees.
ZIMBABWEAN companies are set to increase exports to Zambia following increased engagements with buyers in the country.
National trade development and promotion organisation ZimTrade, has facilitated participation of 30 local companies that are exhibiting at Zambia’s largest trade exhibition event.
Zimbabwean companies are taking part at the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show (ZACS) which returned this year, following two years of disruptions caused by Covid-19. In an update on Twitter, ZimTrade said Zimbabwe has a reputation of quality products in Zambia.
“Local businesses can ride on this reputation to increase their products in the Zambian market. There is a testimony of how our products are preferred products in the market.”
The theme for the 94th edition of ZACS is, “Innovation Through Technology” and is well represented by the innovative youth-owned businesses exhibiting at the fair for the first time. ZimTrade chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Allan Majuru, said the comments received by participating companies from potential buyers shows a positive outlook for Zimbabwean products in Zambia.
“There is potential for diversified products in the Zambian market riding on the existing positive reputation of Zimbabwe’s quality products. Already most buyers in the market are familiar with high quality of products from Zimbabwe and have indicated that they prefer our
The units which are a tied accommodation format (provided as a part of a person’s job and is conditioned by the worker’s continued employment) have their rentals pegged at ZW$35.
However, in a petition signed by the former council employees, they claim that some of them have been residing at the premises for the past 20 years.
“As concerned residents of the above-mentioned area, we note with astonishment the letters intending to terminate our stay we have received. For the record we have rightfully resided in this place for over 20 years because we were handed over the area hence we have housing files and certificates of occupation granted by the Housing office.
“However, we pause a question very pertinent to this circumstance, in an event we are being removed from this residence as per the letters of notice, where is the city council of Bulawayo relocating us to? Given an instance of the residents of Pelandaba who in the fullness of time were removed but relocated somewhere,” products compared to competition.”
Mr Majuru said the positive feedback on Zimbabwe will be used to springboard more local products into the neighbouring country.
As part of ZimTrade’s programme to inculcate export culture in previously marginalised groups, seven youth-led businesses are also participating at ZACS.
“It’s our first time exploring the Zambian market and we notice that the market has potential based on the sales we have made at the trade fair,” said the founder of Manetain Organics, Ms Lianne Shonhiwa, a company that develops organic hair products.
“Our aim is to align ourselves with distributers who can provide a consist supply of our products to the market,” she said.
The trade development and promotion agency said Zimbabwean manufacturers and distributors looking to export have a unique opportunity to grow in the Zambia market, anchored primarily on advantages related to logistics operations and existing reputation of the quality in Zimbabwean products.
A recent market survey conducted by ZimTrade in 2019 revealed that Zambia offers high potential for Zimbabwean products and services in, for example, processed foods, agriculture, and mining sectors. The survey revealed that some local companies are already servicing the market, with processed foods that are known to have better quality compared to competition. Taking advantage of these products already in the Zambian market, there is a huge potential for Zimbabwe to supply products and services to the Zambian market at low tariff rates, riding reads the petition that was addressed to the town clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, the area councillor, Shadreck Sibanda and Makokoba MP, Aldermen James Sithole.
They further noted that some of those who were being evicted were council pensioners who had received nothing at the end of their tenure with the local authority.
“We have been the guardians and liable residents logically, technically, ideally and practically in every sense. This compound consists of pensioners who have received nothing from the end of their tenure/ contract with council, persons who have been granted residence from other places, widows and widowers whose partners left them here with nowhere to go. We also have schooling children some of them orphans of which some are getting ready for examination vis-a-vis their basic right to decent accommodation amongst others and child-headed families amongst the list,” reads the petition.
Zim exporters to strengthen footprint in Zambia
on trade agreements.
Further to this, there is an increasing demand in Zambia mining provinces for fast moving consumer goods that include processed foods and beverages, personal care products and toiletries.
Meanwhile, ZimTrade will be hosting a Dubai inward buyer mission in Harare on 23 August where Dubai and UAE buyers will engage local markets.
“Want to export to Dubai and rest of UAE? We have invited buyers from Dubai who expressed interest in buying horticulture produce, goats and goat meat, and organic products from Zimbabwe. You are invited to come and connect with them,” said ZimTrade.
The country’s export earnings for 2022 are projected to clock US$7,3 billion by year end, spurred by mineral commodity price boom and increases in agriculture and manufacturing. Presenting his Mid-Year Monetary Policy Review and Supplementary Budget on Thursday last week, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said merchandise imports were similarly projected to reach US$8,1 billion driven by fuel, machinery and raw materials.
He said merchandise exports and imports increased by 33 percent and 15 percent to US$3 516,5 million and US$3 746,8 million, respectively, during the first half of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.
“To year-end, exports are expected to reach US$7,3 billion, spurred by increases in mineral receipts benefiting from the mineral commodity price boom, as well as increases in agriculture and manufactured exports,” he said.