Kudzai Jakachira
Harare- the Epworth Local Board has partnered a Swedish firm in
constructing a state of the art farmers’ market in the Harare’ s dormitory settlement ,once regarded as an informal settlement, but now slowly
attaining a town status.
The state of the art farmers’ market will comprise refrigerators to store farm produce, shades, adequate water supplies and hygienic ablution facilities.
Safe lockers and a high security fence will also be put at the new market.
The Swedish firm, Lantmatriate is a company that specializes in land
management, spartial planning and land valuation.
It has various projects underway in several African countries.The development was confirmed by the Epworth Local Board Towne secretary Dr Wilton Mhanda who described the initiative as a milestone step in terms of development in the area which is in line with theo council’s objective of achieving a town status soon.
“In a calculated move, after a lot of consultations, the Epworth Local Board has engaged a Swedish company in the construction of a new farmers’ market in Epworth, a development which will help improve our infrastructure as we target to attain a town status soon,” said Dr
Manda.
The Swedish firm recently invited some officials from the local board to Sweden to undergo training in land management, spartial planning snd land evaluation to sharpen their skills in the trade so as to use the acquired skills to spearhead the Epworth Local Council’s infrastructural developmental projects on course.
Dr Mhanda applauded the development saying that the new farmers’ market will go a long way in improving the livelihoods of Epworth residents as employment and trade opportunities will be created.
He said traders will save costs as they will be having access to fresh produce since farmers which they will be supplying straight to the market.
He added that the availability of refrigerators will be an additional
advantage to traders as their produce will remain fresh.
“The new farmers markert is an achievement in terms of job creation,
thousands will make a living from this project, and this will reduce poverty in our area,” said Dr Mhanda.
“We also clarified on setting up decent hygienic standards at the new market so as to avoid health hazard diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as the farm produce which will be sold at the new market will be clean and safe for consumption.”
The new farmers’ market will help in reducing criminality in the Harare East dormitory settlement as many youths will be empowered by the project.
The development will help reduce drug and substance abuse as well as prostitution as most of the people involved in these acts will be empowered in different ways.