Christopher Makaza.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister, Jennifer Mhlanga has discouraged Chinhoyi Municipality city fathers from treating vendors with disdain, urging them to create market places which are strategic.

Addressing delegates during a tour of a sewer reticulation system in Chinhoyi recently, Deputy Minister Mhlanga informed the local authority that the 5% grant they receive from the Government is coming and that they will access it through the Ministry.

“I want to urge you to treat vendors with respect and not with disdain. They also need to survive just like everyone else, so there is need for you to construct vending stalls which are strategically positioned, close to their customers. I know you have a tendency of placing them at the peripheries of the town, it`s not good for their business,” she said.

“Let me inform you that the 5% grant is indeed coming to the local authorities and all the necessary logistics have been made to make sure that at least part of the 310 million dollars that has been earmarked to come to local authorities will come through the provincial councils, through the devolution system.

“Chinhoyi will be able to access the funds from the Government through the Ministry and we encourage you to use that money towards capital development projects,” she said.

Same urged the municipality to consider engaging in modern sewer reticulation technology through partnering capable private investors.

Deputy Minister Mhlanga took the opportunity to introduce a Bio-Tech investor, Gert Cotzie who has interests to invest in Chinhoyi`s sewer reticulation system and housing projects.

Deputy Minister Mhlanga urged Chinhoyi Municipality to expand housing units in the town, building skyscrapers to save space at the same time accommodating many people. She said that this would also spare agricultural land that had been affected by urban expansion.