Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
MORE than 4 000 informal traders and artisans from the fire-prone Glen View 8 Furniture Complex are now set to be relocated to the Chemhanza open grounds after the completion of designs for a new temporary home industry site.
Work on the new site is expected to begin once final Government approvals are granted.
The relocation follows a recent devastating fire — the latest in a long series of infernos — that gutted the complex, which is one of the capital’s busiest furniture manufacturing and trading hubs.
The Government says the move is part of urgent measures to safeguard livelihoods and create a safer, more organised working environment for thousands of informal traders.
According to the approved designs, the marketplace will be organised in a way that reduces risks such as fire outbreaks and congestion.
Carpenters and furniture manufacturers will operate in their own section, while showrooms will be located separately from production spaces.
Traders who sell timber, nails and other hardware will also have their own area, while those dealing in paints, thinners and other highly flammable materials will be clustered together in a different zone to improve safety.
Food vendors will operate from another section, ensuring that cooking activities do not interfere with other operations. A large parking space has also been incorporated into the plans to bring order to the marketplace and make it more accessible.
Ablution facilities and potable water points are already being installed at the site.
Chairperson of the Harare City Council’s Small to Medium Enterprises Committee Councillor Denford Ngadziore said the local authority, in collaboration with Government ministries and other stakeholders, had approved the designs.
“The Glen View 8 site has been declared a national disaster owing to repeated fires,” he said.
“This meant we had to act quickly to move traders into a safe, well-structured space.
“Our city architect has completed the designs, which have since been shared with Government ministries, possible developers and the traders themselves.”
Cllr Ngadziore said the planning process had been consultative, involving the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works; the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; the council’s technical teams; and contractors.
He added that the Chemhanza ground, which spans nearly six hectares, is larger than the current Glen View 8 complex.
“The Chemhanza ground is going to accommodate all 4 000 traders. It is close to six hectares, which is actually bigger than Glen View Area 8,” he said.
“Whatever has been happening at Glen View 8 will not happen at Chemhanza. There is going to be proper planning, proper allocation and order.”
Cllr Ngadziore said work would be guided by developers.
“But, as you are aware, this has been declared a national disaster. For example, the Mbare market, which was the first phase and was also declared a national disaster, was completed within six months.
“Our hope is that Chemhanza will be completed within two or three months, because there is urgency.”
The Glen View 8 home industry, which opened its doors at the turn of the millennium, has long been the heartbeat of Harare’s informal economy, attracting customers from across the city for its affordable furniture, building materials and other goods.
But frequent fires — sometimes occurring just weeks apart — have caused devastating losses.
Experts say most of the fires at the Glen View 8 Furniture Complex are generally caused by unsafe electrical connections, the use of open flames for heating and highly flammable materials such as timber, foam and thinners stored in cramped wooden stalls.
Poor infrastructure, lack of functional fire hydrants and limited access for fire engines have also worsened the situation, allowing small sparks to quickly escalate into destructive infernos.
