Wenslus Murape
Tafara Chibanda
A DAY after a huge fire swept through Mbare Retail Market on Tuesday night and destroyed property worth thousands of dollars, stall owners were counting their MASSIVE losses yesterday as their investments lay in ruins on a theatre of shattered dreams.
Some of the stalls were still burning yesterday when H-Metro visited the site with parts of the market, which were hit the hardest by the fire, having assumed an apocalyptic outlook.
The blaze is believed to have started around 8pm near a storage area which contained brooms and quickly spread throughout the market, engulfing stalls and destroying goods valued at thousands of dollars.
There was a swift response from both the police and the Harare Fire Brigade, according to witnesses who spoke to H-Metro yesterday.
A market, which is usually bustling with life amid the daily activities which power its thriving local economy, had been tamed by nature and reduced into a lifeless place barely recognisable as the largest vending area in the capital.
The huge fire tore through the plastic structures, the shacks and the market stalls and reduced a lot of what stood in its path into ashes.
There were conflicting versions of what could have started the fire. Some witnesses claimed it was started by some people who started a fire at the market while others claimed it was started by a cigarette that was tossed to the ground.
However, Harare Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume, said they will wait for the professionals to tell them the real cause of the fire.
“We will wait for our professionals to tell us the cause of the fire after investigations,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
“The fire spread rapidly because of the nature of products in the market and wooden stalls.
“The Fire Brigade has contained the fire.It will take some time to put out.
“We have to modernise Mbare and the markets as a matter of urgency.”
Harare City Council spokesperson, Stanley Gama, said:
“The cause of fire is still being investigated and they are gathering information from the people who operate there.
“We are still assessing the extent of the damage as the fire-fighters are still on the ground now trying to clear the smouldering.
“It will take the best part of the day to clear the small pockets of fire left.”
He added:
“The solution is to modernise such markets otherwise they will continue to face similar problems.
“At Glen View home industries we have put in place various fire preventive measures and that’s what is needed for such markets as Mbare Musika.
“It needs to be rebuilt, modernised and have strict preventive measures put in place.”
But, that will only provide cold comfort for the hundreds of traders who suffered massive losses during the fire.
There were reports, too, that some daring thieves also took advantage of the fire and went on a looting spree. Some witnesses said these daring thieves even disrupted service vehicles as they wanted to take advantage of the chaos caused by the blaze.
“Many people took advantage and started stealing while others were battling to contain the fire,” said Christopher Moyo.
“It was chaos and the police had to battle with the thieves.”
Another trader, Maonei Kadyakumbuka, said she lost US$10 000 worth of hardware.
“I don’t know where to start. I just have to sell scraps to get some transport money while I look for something else to do.”
Tendai Muzari, who lost US$5 000 worth of goods, said he was left “confused and heartbroken,” but remained thankful that no lives were lost.
Malvin Nyika said he lost US$1500 worth of goods.
“I came out with nothing, many of us relied on these profits to support our families and now we feel lost and hopeless.”
Esnath Pindura, another trader who said she lost virtually all her investments, said:
“Everything burned in this building and some people began looting.
“We are now thinking of ways to set up temporary stalls to continue our business.”
Brian Ndlovu, who sold garlic and ginger at the market, said:
“I had just returned from Nyamaropa with US$600 worth of stock but by the time I reached the market, after receiving a call about the fire, everything was gone.
“I now have no plan.”
Phineas Munyayi said they will require some form of help to get back on their feet.
“Mbare is the centre of Harare and we are asking for help because we have lost so much,” he pleaded.
“We had uniforms, books, radios and other essential items that are now gone,” he said.
Online Reporter