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