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https://youtu.be/cri234CK2Ec The unfortunate video circulating today, showing a group of elderly women informal traders who are seen  loading vegetables offloaded  directly onto the bare tarmac before loading them into pushcarts and crates, is a stark reminder of the complexities within the informal sector.   While the sight of these women may evoke sympathy for their struggles, it also highlights pressing concerns about public health, safety, and hygiene in market places.   Such practices, though born out of necessity, cast negative perceptions on informal traders and expose the public to health risks. It is a situation that requires a collective call to action.   The women in the video, aware of the inappropriateness of their actions, can be seen scurrying away or swearing at the person filming the scene, indicating that they understand the wrongness of the situation.    As the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), we cannot condone this behavior, the lives of communities are risk. We strongly believe that this culture of poor hygiene and unsafe trading conditions must be addressed immediately by all stakeholders in the economic system.   Every actor, from traders to authorities, must play their part in ensuring that trading spaces are safe, clean, and meet basic health standards, particularly in the handling of food.   With the rainy season upon us, the situation becomes even more urgent. Heavy rains often wash human waste and other pollutants from the city’s unsanitary lanes into the streets and market areas, posing a significant risk of waterborne diseases like Cholera. This is a serious public health issue, and we call upon the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to act swiftly and decisively to prevent a public health crisis, worse when there has been a public scare a few months back.   One immediate solution lies in the completion of the Nkulumane Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market. This market is essential to providing traders with a clean, organized, and sanitary space to conduct their business. Without such spaces, informal traders are left with few options, and scenes like today’s are bound to repeat themselves.   Additionally, there is a need for more investment in decent market infrastructure across the city to accommodate the growing number of vendors and ensure that food handling and public health standards are upheld.   As responsible market actors, we must also hold ourselves accountable. Informal traders must embrace better hygiene practices and make use of available facilities to ensure the safety of their goods and the public. At the same time, city authorities must enforce regulations that promote cleanliness and provide adequate market infrastructure.   The informal sector plays a vital role in our economy, but we must all work together to ensure that it operates in a way that is both dignified and safe. We call on BCC, informal traders, and all market stakeholders to come together and create lasting solutions that protect both traders and the public.   The time for action is now. Let us ensure that Bulawayo’s markets are places of opportunity and safety, not scenes of health hazards. By Michael Mdladla Ndiweni BVTA Executive Director X @mdladlaspeaks Website: www.bvtatrust.org

Urban centres are currently grappling with unprecedented challenges of climate change. Through the dynamic HIVOS supported Urban Futures project, Bulawayo has however been positioned towards shaping a sustainable future as a hub of innovation, offering opportunities for young people to thrive within climate adaptation and the food value chain.  Officially kickstarted in August 2024, it seeks to engage youth as patrons and leaders on transforming the urban food system from production to fork; and food disposal to be climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient. Youth are spearheading innovations and solutions to the challenges of the urban food system in Bulawayo, through creation of inclusive, climate-resilient cities and urban food systems. A consortium of Bulawayo based organisations, namely the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), Lupane State University (LSU), African Food Revolution (AFR), Green Hut and the Unemployed and Vulnerable Foundation Trust (UVFT), is facilitating this process, with BVTA as the lead. The first initiative was a capacity-building program to promote green skills needed for climate adaptation processes and the development of innovations to support a sustainable and resource-efficient food system in Bulawayo. A group of 52 youths were selected through a rigorous and competitive process and are undertaking a first-of-its-kind Advanced Certificate in Advanced Certificate in Urban food system green technologies at LSU through its Centre of Continuity Education (CCE) and the Faculty of Agriculture. The course offers a hands-on experience for the youths to develop a deepened understanding of sustainable -climate-smart agriculture through practicals and look-and-learn activities to leading agro-innovators such as Hlango Ranch, Fish Farming project pioneered by the Celebration Church Oasis of Life and the Ngirazi Green House Farm. Youth have particularly applauded the course for its additional, though unplanned, benefit to the mental wellbeing through site visits. This is also pioneered as the *first inclusive learning program*, with people with disabilities actively engaged in the course, including individuals from the deaf community. The course is in process of being interpreted into sign language, through UVFT. This collaborative effort highlights the importance of inclusivity and the commitment of various stakeholders to support individuals with disabilities in our community. The governance structure is also composed of representatives of Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVPs). With youth as central players, the consortium seeks to build a network of youth champions who will pioneer innovative practices on climate adaptation in the different stages of the food value chain promote the adoption of climate-adaptive farming techniques and inspire new practices. In addition to the course, BVTA supports the youths through its Innovation Hub which is a space where young people aggregate to exchange knowledge, group discussions and work together creatively. The essence is to build a shared sense, established in team values and learn from each other to develop solutions for a better future and a greener Bulawayo. On the innovation component, the project further pioneers young people’s spaces such as the INALA Smart Agro-Challenge, the Wetskills and the Innovative Launchpads designed to bring together diverse youths to develop innovative solutions that can strengthen the city’s food systems against the impacts of climate change. The annual innovation challenge brings together students, youth researchers, and young professionals to develop tech solutions that address the pressing issues facing our food systems as a result of climate change. At a systematic level, Urban Futures is facilitating the review of the Bulawayo Urban Agriculture policy to promote a transformational and enabling framework, that will allow green innovations to thrive. The current policy has various gaps in addressing emergent issues including climate change, perennial water shortages, dilapidating carbon sinks and dwindling agro-food production spaces. Furthermore, the city is characterised by a population surge, influencing the geographic expansion and encroachment of residential areas into previously designated urban farming areas, climate changes affecting productivity on urban food farming, and the busting emergence of ultra-processed foods alleged to contribute to various health complications. The resulting milestones would be the development of a Model Urban Agriculture Policy and an Urban Food System Policy that are cognisant of climate-smart practices, and nutritional balance and facilitate innovative and sustainable food and agricultural production in limited spaces. The Urban Futures project is actively mainstreaming social inclusion through additional work with KVPs, including young girls and youths and people with disabilities, in rehabilitation spaces through partnerships with Prisons’ Farms enterprises to expose them to processes of transforming urban food systems. The project provides different platforms and spaces for these groups to share ideas on their desired climate-resilient futures. In the green skills training, the Bulawayo consortium has mainstreamed classes with sign language and we are currently working on means to also develop inclusive reading materials. Towards the City Vision of a climate resilient, smart, inclusive and safe city with sustainable youth-led Indigenous and evolving modern food systems where citizens are more conscious of their actions, the consortium through the AFR is also engaging children and youth through National Public Speaking and Debate Competitions. Done in indigenous languages, these are aimed at highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and linguistic diversity in food systems advocacy. Various value-addition workshops are also being undertaken on food processing methods. These demonstrate the potential for creating value-added products, explore the impacts of climate change on food systems, and empower young people to become involved in the food value chain. Aiming at reaching national audiences, a new radio show, “Our Food, Our Heritage, Our Future,” was launched on Skyz Metro FM to revitalize the culinary heritage of Bulawayo among young people. The show seeks to educate, inspire, and engage listeners about the cultural significance, nutritional value, and preparation methods of local foods. The Urban Futures project is fast growing into a fundamental, pilot engagement of how smaller cities play a crucial role in finding solutions to the climate crisis, not only reducing emissions and protecting the natural world, but that do so in a way which creates a fairer, more just and more equal world in the process. By Nobubelo Mkwebu

In an age where technology is transforming every industry, some Zimbabwe’s banks seem stuck in the past. The frustrations experienced by ordinary people, especially informal traders, highlight the sector’s archaic systems. The demand for documents like proof of residence, payslips, or formal employment papers creates an unnecessary and absurd barrier for millions of people who don’t own homes, work informally, or are self-employed.   The problem is widespread, affecting countless Zimbabweans, like Phathisani Phiri, a Bulawayo resident. Expressing his frustration, Phiri stated, “Mdala, I have never been so frustrated. Some people outside the country wanted to deposit some money and they ask for a simple bank account confirmation letter, kuthwa (they said) you must write an application letter! Like seriously?”   Phiri’s case is just one of many. Informal traders, who make up the bulk of the Zimbabwean economy, are being denied access to basic financial services simply because they cannot meet these outdated, bureaucratic requirements. It’s hard to fathom why, in 2024, a person still needs to print forms and physically bring them to the bank after “applying online.” The entire process defeats the convenience that online banking is supposed to offer.   Another frustrated individual going by the moniker Njabs quipped “The Banker in me knows the frustration that bankers go through when dealing with stupid laws and also trying to give quality service” It appears its cocktail of problems faced by the banking sector, outdated laws and incompetence.   At a time when regional counterparts have embraced digital and mobile banking, allowing people to open accounts with just an ID, Zimbabwean banks are still clinging to their medieval practices. This behavior not only stifles economic inclusion but also erodes the already fragile trust people have in the banking sector.   Banks in Zimbabwe must move with the times. The current system is out of touch with the reality of the population it serves. If banks want to restore public confidence and make financial services accessible to all, they must scrap these rigid, outdated requirements. It’s time for a radical shift, one that acknowledges the modern economy and embraces technological solutions to provide banking services to every Zimbabwean, regardless of their formal employment status or homeownership.   By Michael Mdladla Ndiweni,  Executive Director for multi award winning Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) writes in his personal capacity. Email: mikejnrsind82@gmail.com X: @mdladlaspeaks