Council to spruce up GV home industry

THE Harare City Council is planning to turn Glen View 8 home industry into a modern market by partnering a local bank.

Poor planning and lack of facilities such as parking bays and proper shelter to protect furniture have been keeping potential customers away.

Speaking with The Herald recently city council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said they are engaging a financial institution to partner it in the construction of a modern market and the project is expected to begin soon.

“We are engaging a financial institution to rehabilitate the Glen View 8 home industry and develop the area into a modern market and we are expecting the process to start soon,” he said.

Glen View 8 has been home to a lot of people, who are skilled in various trades, especially furniture making. Over the years the market has attracted a wide range of buyers from individuals to corporates.

Mr Edison Mahwiti, a self-employed entrepreneur, who makes and sells home furniture, said poor facilities at the home industry was affecting their operations.

“We have been forwarding petitions to council, but they seem to have forgotten us as the situation remains the same because no developments are taking place.

“Furniture such as kitchen units and wardrobes are the ones that are being most affected by the rain, some of our customers are returning some of the ruined furniture,” said Mr Mahwiti.

He said the tobacco selling season was their busiest period because of the appetite of tobacco farmers for their products, but the lack of proper facilities was pushing the farmers away.

“During this tobacco selling season, farmers buy home furniture in large quantities, but the lack of facilities such as car parks and proper shelter are keeping them away.”