Zimpeto: Maputo Wholesale Market may close from tomorrow – Noticias

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Zimpeto: Maputo Wholesale Market may close from tomorrow – Noticias

1:10 CAT | 17 Jun 2020

Photo: Noticias

The Zimpeto Wholesale Market in Maputo could be closed for three to five days from tomorrow, Thursday, to facilitate the reorganisation of stalls in the context of Covid-19 countermeasures, ‘Noticias’ reports.

The measure aims to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in city markets, after it was found that some vendors are infected.

‘Notícias’ had learned that the suspension of activity in Zimpeto will depend on the successful reorganisation of stalls in Xipamanine municipal market, which was closed on Monday.

“If the technicians and the medical team conclude their work in Xipamanine within three days, they will move to Zimpeto on Thursday to start the process there,” director of Markets and Fairs at the Municipal Council of Maputo City (CMCM), Emídio João, has said.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Markets and Fairs will visit Zimpeto market to urge vendors to cooperate with the authorities in the temporary closure.

“Salespeople are aware of the importance of interrupting the activity for a period, then returning to the market in suitable conditions, within the scope of the Covid-19 prevention. To this end, they will not be able to order new products, as we need the space unoccuupied in order to delimit the stalls and placing distancing marks between merchants and customers,” João explained.

On visiting to the market, he said, a multi-sectoral team had noted persistent non-compliance with Covid-19 prevention measures, especially in the coconut-processing area.

Vendors are aware that they need to stop working for the reorganisation of the market to take place. “We accept the need to suspend activities, because life is a precious asset – priceless, in fact,” said Maria Lopes, a Zimpeto vendor of 13 years’ standing.

Visiting the Xipamanine market, ‘Noticias’ found some vendors removing construction material for later reuse, while the authorities worked at top speed to reorganise the market within the deadline.

Source: Noticias