On Friday the 31st of May 2019, Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) engaged a consultant to conduct the second Community Survey Meeting on the Inclusive Cities Planning Project. The meeting was conducted in Chitungwiza at Chigovanyika Shopping center. The project is a twelve-month initiative that is being implemented in collaboration with Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA). The goal of this project is to institute inclusive city planning and designing processes through strengthening the supply side at local government level and ensuring inclusive mutual beneficial engagement in finding lasting solutions with the informal economy.
A total of 30 participants (14 males, 16 females, 16 youth) attended the Community Survey Meeting and expressed their different perspectives of what an ‘Inclusive City’ would look like to each one of them. The participants also managed to sketch rough ideas of their dream market stalls or vending sites with all the amenities they would require such as solar panels (renewable energy), clean water, ablution facilities, recycling of refuse, storage and other security features.
The sketches of the Inclusive City designs were done after they had deliberated on the services that are lacking in their current vending sites. It was noted that most vendors lack security and safety in their current vending sites because most of their trading zones with access to profitable markets are deemed ‘illegal vending sites’. This often leaves the vendors prone to harassment, victimization, corruption and extortion. Through this project, VISET seeks to mould a culture of co-existence and respect between the vendors and local authorities. In this regard, an Inclusive City Design will help the vendors to protect their sources of livelihoods while also respecting everyone’s right to the city.
The Baseline Survey is going to inform the follow up activities of this project which include a model city that promotes inclusivity. The report with the findings will be shared as soon as the consultant is done analysing the data.
Source: Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)
