INFORMAL traders in Bulawayo have appealed to the government to prioritise the provision of safe and affordable workspaces, saying harsh working conditions and high operating costs are threatening the survival of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
This came out during a meeting organised by the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), which brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and Bulawayo City Council representatives.
BVTA Director and Head of Secretariat for the Bulawayo MSMEs Apex Board, Mr Michael Ndiweni, said the engagement was aimed at finding lasting solutions to the worsening workspace crisis faced by MSMEs.
“Right now, it’s the rainy season and people are not making money because many operate in open spaces without shelter,” said Mr Ndiweni.
“We are saying, what can we do moving forward to improve access to decent workspaces? That’s why we brought together all key players to discuss how we can create a more supportive environment for enterprise growth.”
Mr Ndiweni noted that vendors and small traders continue to work under unsafe and unhealthy conditions, with limited infrastructure and little protection from the elements. He said the meeting sought to urge authorities to reduce taxes and licensing levies, as well as to engage property owners on the need to lower rental fees.
“Many businesses are closing because of high rentals and costly licensing processes. Bringing everyone together allows us to reflect and come up with strategies to ease the burden on MSMEs,” he said.
Representing the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs Glory Damba acknowledged the concerns raised and said government was taking steps to improve workspace conditions for informal traders.
“The Ministry has renovated quite several buildings, and two are almost complete, including the one at 11th Avenue and Corner Basch Street, which is 85 percent done,” said Mrs Damba. “These renovations, done in partnership with the Bulawayo City Council and the African Development Bank, are meant to decongest the city centre and provide MSMEs with safer, more modern workspaces.”
Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet on MSMEs Mr Dumisani Ncube, said the workshop was also meant to clarify and unpack government reforms announced by the Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, which are aimed at improving the ease of doing business for MSMEs and informal traders.
“Why we are here in this workshop is to assist informal traders and MSMEs to better understand what the Minister of Finance has said regarding ongoing reforms, particularly those on licensing,” said Mr Ncube.
“We are seeing 11 licences being scrapped for the retail and wholesale sectors, as well as reforms in agriculture, transport, and other sectors. We look forward to creating a more favourable environment where informal traders can formalise their businesses, contribute to the fiscus, and support the country’s GDP growth.”
Mr Ncube also urged local authorities to prioritise the provision of safe workspaces for MSMEs by renovating existing infrastructure and crafting bylaws that support business growth.
He added that many informal traders lack awareness of the supportive policies already in place.
“What I have learnt is that people need to be educated about government policies. Some of the criticism directed at government stems from ignorance many do not know that there are policies which actually favour them,” he said.
The meeting highlighted that MSMEs contribute about 67 percent of Bulawayo’s revenue and employ nearly 75 percent of the national workforce, yet continue to face challenges such as poor sanitation, water shortages, inadequate market infrastructure, and limited access to information about government programmes.
Stakeholders agreed that improving workspace access, reducing operating costs, and strengthening communication between government and traders are key to sustaining livelihoods, promoting local economic growth, and protecting small businesses from the effects of climate and economic shocks.
