By Own Correspondent

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has begun demolishing structures at the Mpopoma Outspan Furniture Manufacturing complex, popularly known as Espamprikeni, resulting in the immediate loss of livelihoods for hundreds of vendors and traders.

The ongoing demolitions are part of the council’s drive to enforce municipal by-laws and a nationwide campaign to restore order in business spaces. Mrs. Nesisa Mpofu, the BCC Corporate Communications Manager, explained, “Council is continuing to enforce its bylaws as part of efforts to restore order in the city. The exercise is also in line with the nationwide clean-up campaign, which seeks to ensure that activities taking place in different areas are conducted in an orderly manner and in compliance with the law.”

However, the move has drawn heavy criticism from the Mpopoma Development Trust, which argues that the demolitions have devastated the community. The Trust’s director, Mr. Jackson Sibanda, pointed out, “We are concerned that council is proceeding with demolitions when the matter is already before the courts. We believe that this amounts to contempt of court because the dispute has not yet been resolved through the judicial process.”

He added that the operation has “disrupted the livelihoods of more than 300 people, including furniture manufacturers, employees, traders and other small-scale business operators who depended on the complex.”

For many, the Espamprikeni complex was more than just a business location—it was their only means of survival. Mr. Sibanda emphasized, “This place is not just a collection of structures; it is a livelihood centre for hundreds of people. More than 300 people are affected, and behind every business is a family that depends on the income generated there.”

He expressed fears that the demolitions could “reverse efforts by small-scale entrepreneurs to create employment and contribute to the local economy.” He called for “dialogue between council and the affected business operators, saying a lasting solution should be found without unnecessarily destroying livelihoods.”

Espamprikeni, established in the early 1990s, had grown into a major furniture manufacturing hub, supporting over 200 carpenters and generating more than 400 jobs. After surviving a devastating fire in January 2023, traders were only just starting to recover when the demolitions further threatened their survival. With the sudden destruction of their workplaces, hundreds of families now face a precarious future, left to wonder how they will manage in the wake of these sweeping job losses.