Rusape to refurbish Vengere Market
IN a drastic business decision, Rusape Town Council has invited property developers to revamp the appalling Vengere Bus Terminus Market and establish an upmarket shopping mall at a strategic prime land in the Central Business District.
The Vengere Bus terminus, besides being a rank for local and long distance buses, hosts several economic entities like fresh farm produce markets, shops, small-to-medium-enterprises straddling steel and metal works, among other business.
The market provides a lifeline to thousands of residents, and its revamp will give them a safe operating environment as they are currently exposed to adverse weather conditions.
The market has become an eyesore due to overcrowding and the general derelict state of the infrastructure.
It is also a ticking health time bomb, as ablution facilities no longer cope with the increasing population, and more often voluminous streams of sewer flowing into the market area is a common feature.
Council has also made a bold decision to mow down its derelict building in the CBD to pave way for the construction of an upmarket shopping mall.
The building is also an eyesore at the heart of the town vying for municipal status, housing several small business entities and flea markets.
Rusape director of housing and social services, Mr Morris Tekwa said council had for several years planned to upgrade the two facilities, but failed to do so due to lack of funds, hence the latest decision to forge a partnership with private property developers.
Mr Tekwa allayed fears that roping in a private developer at Vengere Bus Terminus will push out the poor and SMEs, who constitute the majority of those operating there.
“Council made a resolution to upgrade its premises, starting with Vengere Bus Terminus and Old Education Building in line with the urban renewal drive.
This is also in response to Government’s call to action blueprint, which also speaks to urban renewal and regeneration.
“The two places will be developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPPs). We have resolved to enter into a Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement, and we have closed the bidding process. We will soon invite the bidders to make presentations.
It was council’s wish to do it alone, but the tight liquidity challenges have made it impossible, hence the decision to rope in partners for these capital intensive projects.
“The little resources we have are being channelled towards solid waste management, water supply and public health delivery services. We have done the necessary due diligence with other municipalities who did this before like Gweru at their Mutapa Market, and we will adopt the same model. Interests of all our stakeholders will be considered. We actually intend to have a large market that will house more and different entrepreneurs, and the involvement of private investors will in no way affect those currently operating from the two premises,” said Mr Tekwa.
Mr Tekwa said they will demolish the CBD structure and construct a multi-storey shopping mall. “The current structures at that complex are no longer in line with modern building trends. We want to standardise buildings in our town, and as council, we must be seen taking the lead and set the standards. There will be an upmarket stall with at least four floors. As council, we are spearheading the urban renewal, and call upon property owners to upgrade their buildings. Those with derelict infrastructure have been notified, and will soon be fined. We want the image of our town to improve,” said Mr Tekwa.
However, the Makoni Informal Sector Association, which represents tenants at Vengere
Bus Terminus, expressed concern over the council’s move to involve a private property developer, fearing to be charged exorbitant tariffs and rates.
The association’s secretary, Mr Tapiwa Mashiri said council should ring fence the money it collects from the terminus and plough it back to revamp the place.
“Vengere Bus Terminus is council’s daily cash cow, and we do not see the reason why they should bring a private player to revamp the bus terminus. This is something that council can do using our daily remittances. Private developers will charge more tariffs to recoup their expense within a certain period of time. Their charges cannot be compared to council. Such a decision will destabilise people’s livelihoods. While we appreciate the dire need for renovations at the market, we strongly feel that council should do it on its own and not expose residents to capitalists,” said Mr Mashiri.