GOVERNMENT and local authorities across the country have been petitioned to upgrade informal market structures to ensure that vendors are protected from potential losses arising from fire outbreaks that have become a common occurrence at the old buildings and structures.
This follows a fire outbreak at Mbare Musika, which destroyed several buildings and market stalls on Tuesday night, with property worth hundreds of thousands of United States dollars is believed to have been destroyed in the inferno. City of Harare spokesperson Stanley Gama said authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage as the fire fighters were still on the ground
“It will take the best part of the day to clear the small pockets of fire left. The cause of the fire is still being investigated and they are gathering information from the people,” he said.
Gama said there was need to upgrade the markets as they are prone to such incidents.
“At Glen View home industries, we have put in place various fire preventive measures and that is what needed for such markets as Mbare Musika. It needs to be rebuilt, modernised and strict fire preventive measures put in place,” he said.
However, the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) said initial reports indicated that the fire was caused by candles left unattended, as the area was under load-shedding at the time.
“The fire left a trail of destruction in its wake, as informal traders' market stalls went up in flames, with some risking life and limb battling to recover their wares left overnight in storage. The fire is said to have spread to nearby dwellings, rendering many homeless and our thoughts are with them,” Viset said.
“To the uninitiated, the Mbare Musika area is the mecca of many farmers who come and dispose their produce every day at wholesale prices. It is also a major transit point where people board long-distance buses to all corners of the country.
- Upgrade informal market structures, govt urged
Keep Reading
“Given the high levels of informality in the country, it is no exaggeration that any disruption at this major cash trading point will have severe consequences for all in the informal economy ecosystem.”
Viset said the government should take action to ensure that proper modern market structures are erected in Mbare and other fire-prone areas like the furniture market in Glen View Area 8.
“We are aware that many politically exposed persons from the main parties would want to see the situation continue as it has been for their own corrupt reasons, but we believe the time to act is now before another catastrophe befalls these areas,” it said.
“It remains our hope that the formalisation strategy initiated by government, in which we as an organisation have played a pivotal role, will finally be adopted and implemented, as we believe this would be the ideal vehicle through which we can address the dire need for affordable, safe, and modern markets.”
According to witnesses, this was not the first time a fire had broke out at Mbare Musika, although the previous inferno was extinguished before it could spread far.
A witness who preferred anonymity said the previous incident was caused by cigarette smokers.
“They have been incidences of carelessness before. I recall a similar incident in 2005, but fortunately, the fire was extinguished quickly before it spread,” he said.
Tonderai Gumiro, a vendor, recounted the Tuesday night chaos, saying they were barred by security personnel from salvaging their goods, potentially due to theft concerns.
“We could have saved our belongings if we were allowed to enter, but security would not let us in. To make matters worse, there are people who managed to jump in and steal some goods as the fire licked at and consumed everything in its path,” he said.
Many vendors bemoaned that they had lost their life savings.
“For 20 years, I have relied on daily sales to survive. It’s a hand to mouth existence. You sell, you eat. You don’t sell, you go hungry,” said Cecelia Getsi, one of the affected vendors.
“The fire has destroyed our livelihoods. I’m worried about my family’s next meal.”
