ZimAsset asset is a mere wish song with words, without anything reality that will come out of it, the words were echoed by ST Mary’s constituency MDC-T MP in Chitungwiza Hon Utongi D Tarusenga who is also a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Labour and Public Services at a round table hosted by the Media Centre in the capital.
The round table discussion was meant to address some of the challenges faced by marginalised women in the informal sector.
Nearly 50 women, mainly from the high density suburb of Epworth attended the round table discussion to enlighten the MP on some of the obstacles they were facing as vendors, cross border traders and flea market owners.
MP Tarusenga said he was aware of challenges they were facing, promising the women that he was going to inform the responsible ministry on their grievances.
“I’m conscious of your situation, that’s why I’m here to create dialogue on the issues, however I will get in touch with minister Chombo to see if we can map a way forward on allocation of vending sites within your residential places”, said the ST Mary’s MP.
He also lamented the levels of corruption in the country outlining that it could only be reduced since ending it was a nightmare.
“Until up to now we are still also waiting for the finance ministry to allocate us our community development funds which are suppose to be assisting in some of the developmental programmes in our constituencies”.
Women echoed the same sentiments saying many of them were now breadwinners of their families after their husbands had moved to Diaspora in pursuit of better employment opportunities.
“We are trying to run our own business but council officials uses nepotism to allocate vending space, corruption is very high that even if you apply first for a space you might be amazed to see another person already occupying it”, the women agreed on the same statement.
Sarah Njanji a citizen journalist lambasted Hon Amos Midzi the Member of Parliament for Epworth saying he had neglected the constituency, falling even to come and visit to meet the people who had voted him into power since 2013.
“We have tried to engage the MP but all is in vain, calling him is a matter of wasting time because he doesn’t answer and it’s even worse if you are not a pro-Zanu-PF member, ” Njanji said.
The women further went on to argue on the money which was being collected by council on daily basis revealing that it was too much as it was mostly their daily profit, thereby affecting the viability of their businesses.
