Council, informal sector join hands

CHIPINGE Town Council chairman, Councillor Kingstone Dhlumo has called on players in the informal sector to join hands and develop an industrial hub in the farming town.

He said the town can only develop through the establishment of a thriving industrial sector. Speaking during a recent interface with stakeholders, Councillor Dhlumo said those in the informal sector, especially welders, mechanics and panel-beaters, should operate from safer places as their current working places are not conducive for work. “Some places where people are operating from are not serviced, and we are inviting them to operate from designated places. This applies to vendors and other informal businesses,” he said.

Councillor Dhlumo urged those in the informal sector to form associations that will champion their cause.

“We are working on a smart city blueprint for Chipinge Town Council, and we want to urge players in the informal sector to form associations that will represent their interests in all major council deliberations.

“So far, we are happy with the positive response we are getting from the informal sector in up-scaling their operations. As council, we will also speedily identify a well serviced place where they can operate from. We want to make sure that the Chipinge smart city blueprint becomes a reality,” he said.

Chipinge Town Council vice-chairman, Councillor Takesure Mafaone chipped in: “We want to see a changed Chipinge Town. We want to have a well developed town with well laid out structures. Haphazard operations by the informal sector should be a thing of the past. We want to raise Chipinge’s profile.”