In a recent statement, Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume, has addressed and dismissed false reports circulating on social media regarding the weekly fees for traders operating at the Mbare Musika Hub.
Responding to inquiries, Mayor Mafume assured the public that the traders would not be required to pay more than $30 per week, refuting claims that the cost would be as high as $50.
” They won’t be paying more than $30 per week that won’t come up to a lot of money and we will also be giving an investor a break in terms of rents,” he said.
Questions surrounding the identity of the investor were raised by prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who sought clarity on who is funding the initiative. Mafume responded by stating that the investor includes the government, Masimba, and the council itself, indicating a collective effort to revitalize and support the Mbare Musika trading hub.
Critics of the Mayor’s administration have raised concerns about transparency and the sustainability of such initiatives, but Mafume reassured them that the collaborative approach with various stakeholders is aimed at long-term viability.
