Mbare Musika is the major trading market for vegetables and fruits in Mbare suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe. Recent reports indicate that the high daytime temperatures are ruining more than 60 percent of the fresh produce brought in. Coming against a background of stringent marketing regulations by the City of Harare, this matter shows that the municipality is only interested in the farmers' day-to-day offerings, not their welfare.
Surely, at this point in time, the City of Harare should have collected enough levies from the growers-traders to spare a bit for the erection of decent sheds, building of decent refrigerated storage facilities, putting concrete floors with good drainage at the market and more importantly ensuring that the place is run efficiently.
However, this is not taking place. Maybe it is time the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, takes over the running of the fresh produce market and invests in market infrastructure in the same way it is investing in irrigation, dams and roads, if horticultural produce is to be preserved and sold in its best state.
Source: herald.co.zw