An article by Jussa Kudherezera and Samantha Zengeni.
In 2020, City of Mutare took the decision to summarily close down Sakubva Musika (vegetable market) together with the flea market adjacent to Sakubva stadium as part of the raft of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The local authority then proceeded to “decentralize vegetable markets to Dangamvura grounds and Chikanga sports field leaving out flea market traders in the cold. At least the vegetable traders got some respite. The closure of the flea markets suddenly deprived thousands of people of their source of livelihood reducing them to paupers over night.
It was indeed a drastic decision that was triggered by a troublesome and mischievous virus that even managed to send the whole world to sleep as the Corona virus ravaged through. The closure of market was not well received by those stakeholders in the Informal trade who questioned the logic of summarily stripping people of their livelihoods
To this end, some organizations such as Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA), Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy (ZCIEA) and Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) advocated for the reopening of Sakubva flea market as a matter of urgency. This request was spurned by the local authority who claimed that the flea market just like the main vegetable market will not be reopened in the foreseeable future because the space was earmarked for redevelopment under the proposed but stalled Urban Renewal project.
A compromise was reached between Council and MITA to “temporarily” locate the flea market at the Sakubva Beit hall. This move was vigorously contested by Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) who contended that locating the flea market at Sakubva Beithall hall was a bad decision since the Beithall and environs served as a youth centre and recreational facility. Apart from multipurpose sporting facilities, there is a library, youth centre, nursery school, post office which cannot mix with the hustle and bustle of a flea market.
Furthermore MAYA contended that a flea market at Beithall did not make any business sense arguing that those pushing for the relocation of the flea market to Sakubva Beithall appeared to be using the rule of thumb rather than an objective business perspective. MAYA urged City of Mutare to find an appropriate site to locate the flea market such as the under-utilized beer halls like Maonde bar, Old bar or Chinyausunzi which also have basic utility services and council will not be reinventing the wheel since they have already done so with the Bako flea market which is located within the formerly New Bar.
Contrary to MAYA’s position, supposed beneficiaries of the flea market such as The Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA) Chairperson Mr. Muturika said that with a membership of over 5000 they were very happy with the development at Sakubva Beit hall adding that traders jostled for tables when the flea market opened. “We are very thankful to City of Mutare for turning Sakubva Beithall into a flea market, this will help fight hunger and poverty in the locations “He acknowledged the pervasive nature of politics and warned against politicisation of the process arguing that “people need to just sell their wares and make a living”.
Eight months after the flea market was moved to Sakubva Beithall, it appears MAYA’s earlier argument that locating the flea market at Sakubva Beithall was a bad decision bereft of any business sense has been proven to be spot on as just a few tables are currently occupied. The place is overgrown with grass, unkempt and desolate. The few traders operating painted a sorry picture with one angry trader openly accusing council and MITA of dumping them at a place they knew was not suitable for business. She said most of the self appointed leaders had multiple tables at Bako and Chidzere flea markets where business is brisk or much better than at Sakubva Beit hall.
The irony being that Council demands that the traders pay daily levies equal to those operating from Bako or Chidzere. To make matters worse, there is a section of Vendors representatives that is urging its members to trade from any spaces without paying any levies required by Council further rendering the flea market at Beithall uncompetitive. These unpaying traders are now selling their wares at strategic places such as the road that runs from TM Sakubva up to Sakubva stadium. Many more are selling from cars while they are stuck at Beithall.
Many traders have now taken a conscious decision to piggy back at Bako where business is better so that they are able to pay the levies and back breaking presumptive tax demanded by the taxman/ Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). Coupled with the liquidity crunch, business has been very low at Sakubva Beithall and according to another trader, November and December, the festive season turned out to be worst in terms of business recorded.
While increasingly more of the small-scale sector is being subjected to the presumptive tax, little is known about the impact of this tax on the traders themselves particularly its impact on women, who make up the majority of small-scale traders in Mutare. There is need for government to be open and accountable on the benefit of the presumptive tax on Informal traders. Council should also do the same and use the levies paid by traders to upgrade the facilities.
There is still ample time for Council and stakeholders to reconsider the decision to locate the flea market at Sakubva Beithall and instead find a much better and suitable site. The beer halls that are currently grossly under-utilized can temporarily house flea market traders especially Chinyausunzi and the other one at Musika. Children still need to play and learn at Beithall. Youths still need to read in the library. Churches still need to pray inside and outside the Beithall. Lastly, the Sakubva Beithall hall has never been suitable for a flea market.