Fungayi Munyoro-Chingaira
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

CHIPINGE-United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has partnered Chipinge Rural District Council (RDC) to construct Jopa Women Safe Market that will house 150 vendors.
Chipinge RDC administrator, Takesure Madhuveko confirmed the development to Chipinge Times and said the project is expected to be completed by June this year.
“As council, we gave land to Jopa Safe Market Committee under the Women Affairs umbrella where UNOPS is the funder and has since contracted RealQoute Constructions. The contractor is already on site and is recruiting locals,” said Madhuveko.
Jopa is one of the biggest and busiest fresh fruit markets in Chipinge and is located some 20km from the town along the Chipinge-Mutare road. The place is well-known for affordable yams (magogoya), sweet potatoes, macadamia nuts, bananas, avocado pears, pineapples and oranges among others.
The project entails the construction of six sheds which will each house 25 vendors. Three of the sheds are on footing level, said Madhuveko.
Vendors will pay a monthly fee of US$12 per table or US$1 a day once the project is complete.
“As council, we gave land to a committee called Jopa Safe Market Committee under the Women Affairs umbrella where UNOPS is the funder. Currently three out of six sheds are at footing level and the project is expected to be complete by June this year. Each shed is expected to house 25 vendors and in all there are going to be 150 vendors.
“Jopa Safe market Committee will do the allocation. Farmers are also going to bring their produce to the market which will go a long way in terms of increasing the district’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said Madhuveko