In Harare’s Mbare Musika market, charred remains of stalls and the smouldering embers left Albert Takadya (35), an informal trader, a heartbroken man.
Takudya is among the thousands of vendors who were left counting losses after an inferno razed parts of the bustling market last Tuesday evening.
He told a story of shattered hopes, and the desperate struggle to rebuild from the ashes as the once bustling market is now a heap of ashes and dust.
“My life has always revolved around this marketplace; I don’t know where to go,” a teary Takadya, who grew up in Mbare said.
“I was born here in Mbare Musika, witnessing my mother selling in the market.
“Unfortunately, this fire destroyed my stall, and the estimated value of my lost items is around US$4,000.
“I feel lost and helpless, but I am leaving everything in the hands of God.”
Another affected trader Amai Ngonidzashe Manyemba (42) who resides in Budiriro high-density suburb expressed grief over the loss of her business.
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Manyemba, who said she had been operating from Mbare Musika for the past decade, appealed for government help to restart her business.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said.
“It feels like I am dreaming or I am still asleep because this is all so unreal to me; I have never experienced anything like this before.
“I am deeply wounded. My business involves selling packaging wares, which includes bread packs and plastic bags.
“My wish is that the government will intervene to help us by providing financial assistance.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but videos shared on social media showed a large blaze burning in the distance, with thick billows of smoke visible in the night sky.
“This was my workplace, my industry, my everything,” Manyemba said.
“We are also appealing to well-wishers for help with start-up capital because we are on zero after this inferno.”
Tawanda Chirau (49), who is originally from rural Murewa, said Mbare Musika had been his workplace since 1994.
“The problem of fires in this market is something we have often seen, usually caused by the ladies who cook beans for sale; that is the root cause of these fire outbreaks,” a distraught Chirau said.
“When I arrived at my workplace, I saw only dust — everything was destroyed.
“We suspect that some items were looted before the fire consumed the entire market.”
David Mugabe, originally from Chivhu, also expressed frustration over the complete destruction of his business.
“In the past, we experienced some small fires that burned maybe one or two tables, but now a fire has destroyed everything in the entire retail marketplace,” Mugabe said.
“The estimated value of my products was about US$20 000 because I was running a business selling hardware goods.
“I was preparing to go and see my children at their boarding school, but now I have nothing to show for it; everything was destroyed, including recently purchased items.”
He added: “I am in pain because the accident happened when I didn’t even have a cent in the bank or any investment.
“The situation is very painful because now I can’t afford my responsibilities as a father to my children.”
Analysts said the fire incident exposed the need for vendor-based insurance to help traders to restock.
A business analyst, Tanaka Handina, said corporates should turn this tragedy into an opportunity through vendor insurance.
“By advocating for vendor insurance, we can help protect our local entrepreneurs and ensure that they thrive despite the challenges they face,” Handina said.
“Together, we can build a safer and more supportive environment for our vibrant market community.”
Economist Trust Chikohora said insurance is very important in terms of risk management and disaster recovery.
“Small to medium enterprises tend to shun insurance because they find it to be too expensive for them,” Chikohora said.
The government has pledged to provide non-collateral loans to the affected vendors.
“It is incumbent on the insurance industry to come up with affordable products tailor made for such SMEs,” Chikohora said.
Economist Daisy Huni said awareness campaigns were needed to educate vendors about the importance of insurance.
“The reason why most vendors didn’t operate with insurance is the fact that they aren’t registered business and they are not paying tax for them to qualify for business insurance,” Huni said.
“Such an incident might just be the right opportunity to raise that awareness for the need to insure the business, make the vendors understand how much of a cushion insurance is.
“They can try to do it the way we insure motor vehicles, go with a lease, state what kind of business and be insured accordingly.”
