Nqobile Bhebhe,Zimpapers Business Hub
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has announced the formation of the Bulawayo Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (BMSMEs) Apex Board, a representative body set to strengthen engagement between informal sector players and authorities.
“Bulawayo Province has constituted a Bulawayo Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (BMSMEs) Apex Board, whose mandate is to represent informal sector players in their engagement with authorities, including the City of Bulawayo,” the local authority posted on its X account.
The membership of the Apex Board is drawn from a wide cross-section of informal sector organisations operating in the city, signifying a consolidated approach to addressing issues affecting entrepreneurs in the sector.
The Board was officially presented to its membership on Wednesday at the Large City Hall, in a ceremony witnessed by officials from the City of Bulawayo and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
During the event, the Ministry reaffirmed Government’s position on the importance of regulation and compliance within the informal economy.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender, Small and Medium Enterprises Development restated Government’s position that the informal sector should be regulated and that players should operate within the confines of the law,” read part of the statement.
Council also underscored the need for operators to formalise their businesses to enhance service delivery and the development of decent working spaces.
“On the other hand, the City of Bulawayo encouraged players in the informal sector to register and meet Council obligations to enable the local authority to improve their working spaces,” the local authority added.
The launch of the BMSMEs Apex Board comes at a time when the informal sector continues to play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s economy. In Bulawayo, thousands of families depend on informal trading for their livelihoods, with the sector widely recognised as one of the biggest employers outside the formal job market.
Nationally, studies indicate that the informal economy contributes significantly to household incomes and has become a major driver of job creation at a time when formal sector opportunities remain limited.
The establishment of the Apex Board is expected to streamline communication between informal traders and authorities, while ensuring that the sector contributes more meaningfully to the city’s economic growth and job creation agenda.