Bulawayo moves to reopen shops

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BULAWAYO City Council is conducting interviews for new tenants to occupy about 80 closed shops and unoccupied factory shells in the city, months after evicting others in the western areas.

BULAWAYO City Council is conducting interviews for new tenants to occupy about 80 closed shops and unoccupied factory shells in the city, months after evicting others in the western areas. CHIEF REPORTER Councillors and the council management officials are presiding over the selection process which started on Monday and will run through to Friday.

Council sources said prospective tenants are questioned on their capacity to run businesses, and the number of people they would employ.

“We started interviewing prospective tenants on Monday and hope to be done on Friday,” an insider said.

“A cross-section of locals responded to the tender floated some time mid-year.

“We are basically asking the people about their history in Bulawayo, how they will sustain the shops if granted permits and their employment plans.”

In June, the local authority called for tenders for the reopening of 80 closed shops and unoccupied factory shells in the city, including the hospitality lounge at Barbourfields Stadium.

The tenders are only for people who have stayed in the city for a minimum of 15 years.

This comes after the local authority evicted scores of vendors that were illegally operating from its shops.

The closed shops are in Barbourfields (4), Luveve (3), Mzilikazi (2), Mpopoma (11), Pelandaba (3), Makokoba (11), Tshabalala (17), Njube (2), Iminyela (2) and Pumula (1).

Factory shells that were surrendered are in Kelvin North while vacant kiosks are located in Barham Green, North End and Centenary Park.

Twenty commercial bays and service industry bays are up for grabs in Luveve.

Based on the notice, council wants to revive two hospitality lounges, including the VIP lounge at Barbourfields Stadium and six kiosks within the stadium.

The hospitality sections are not fully operational.