His Excellency Stephane Rey, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, joined His Worship Senator David Coltart, the Mayor of Bulawayo, along with the Director of Economic Development Mr Simon Saunyama, who was representing the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Bulawayo Province, Honourable Judith Ncube, City of Bulawayo Councillors and development partners on Thursday for a tour of the Highlanders Safe Market site.

The site is set for a US$200,000 revamping aimed at strengthening urban resilience and creating safer trading conditions for informal traders.

In a press statement which was seen by My Kasi Magazine from Bulawayo City Council,The City of Bulawayo received the US$200,000 from the Swiss Government specifically for the reconstruction of the Highlanders Safe Market Site.
The project will focus on installing sheds for traders operating at the site, providing them with secure and dignified spaces to conduct business.

The upgrade is part of a broader effort to improve infrastructure in areas where informal traders operate, ensuring that their working environment meets standards that support both safety and economic activity.

After the tour, Ambassador Rey said the disbursement of the US$200,000 reflects Switzerland’s commitment to inclusive development and to ensuring that informal traders are able to work in an environment that upholds their dignity.

He also emphasised in a statement the support goes beyond infrastructure, pointing to the role of safe markets in building urban resilience and sustaining livelihoods in the city.

Beyond the immediate US$200,000 extended to the City of Bulawayo, Ambassador Rey announced that his government has pledged an additional US$8 million to be extended to urban local authorities across Zimbabwe, including Bulawayo, for future urban resilience programmes.

The pledge signals a longer-term partnership focused on strengthening cities to withstand economic and environmental pressures while supporting inclusive growth at the local level.

Senator Coltart expressed gratitude for the funds that have been extended to the City, noting that the support will enable the upgrading of infrastructure in spaces where informal traders operate daily. He noted in the same statement that the City was appreciative of the funding received from the Swiss people and gave an assurance that the money would be put to good use, with accountability and impact at the forefront of implementation.

For many traders who have worked under difficult conditions at Highlanders, the announcement represents a tangible step toward improving their day-to-day working environment.