Maria David
THE much-anticipated first-ever Tsumeb fruits and vegetables hub was officially opened on Friday.
The newly inaugurated facility will accommodate 105 vendors, of which 84 stalls are for fruits and vegetables, 10 for kapana, seven for SME units, and four for bulk stalls.
Speaking during the official opening, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni said there is a greater need for public markets to increase access to healthy foods while highlighting the local culture of their communities in which they are found.
Uutoni indicated that these markets, as we all know them, bring together community members, local business leaders, and visitors to celebrate and recognize the importance of public spaces and their roles in helping to create communities of lasting value.
He noted that the open markets are vital public spaces that drive and apply a far-reaching influence on the shaping and function of our towns.
“Equally, these markets contribute enormously to job creation, income generation, and revenue mobilization and are reckoned as the engine that powers the local economic and physical development of local authorities,” he said.
He added that as central, regional, and local government, they have a collective responsibility of initiating and implementing policies and programs that promote the welfare and enrich the lives of the people, especially those at the grassroots level.
Uutoni indicated that their obligation as a custodian Ministry is to give people the necessary support in terms of capacity building, which includes training, funding, and any other resources at their disposal to ensure that they exercise their duties within the framework of national policies, laws, and regulations.
Hence, Uutoni noted that the ideal situation is that there will be cooperation, mutual trust, and understanding as they interact with one another in the performance of their respective responsibilities.
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