A devastating fire ripped through Mbare Musika, Harare’s sprawling informal market, on Tuesday night, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. Witnesses described the blaze as the worst the area has seen in decades, a cataclysmic event that reduced countless homes and businesses to ashes as some of the shacks destroyed were housing hundreds of people and their wares.
The fire, which reportedly started around 9 pm, spread rapidly through the densely packed market, fueled by the highly flammable materials used in the construction of the shacks and stalls.
A witness, Taurai Nendoro, recounted, “We really don’t know what caused the fire, but I have never seen anything like this in Mbare for the past 30 years I have been living here. We only heard the fire was caused by candle light, people use candles in this area as we usually doesn’t have electricity from 6pm to 6am. This area is also overcrowded and any incident of fire can easily spread. There are lots of combustible materials in these dwellings here and that makes this place susceptible to fire outbreaks.”
The scene was chaotic. Flames engulfed shacks and market stalls, sending thick, black smoke billowing across the western part of the township. Explosions of combustible materials punctuated the night, adding to the terror and confusion. People scrambled to escape, carrying salvaged belongings in bags and carts, while others helped those trapped in the inferno. The sounds of shattering glass, crumbling structures, and panicked cries for help filled the air.
Vimbai Dandara, another Mbare resident, described the scale of the devastation: “It’s a disaster. I don’t even know where I will go tonight; my family has lost everything. We have lost our dwelling, all the goods that we buy and sell to make a living and our belongings.”
The fire left a landscape of rubble and ruin. Shacks were reduced to ashes, displacing residents and leaving families homeless, their livelihoods consumed by the flames.
Charles Gomo, a witness, summed up the impact: “The impact is very serious. Apart from destruction of property and loss of livelihoods, just imagine the trauma and psychological distress on those affected. This is shocking.”
Emergency services, including the fire brigade, responded to the scene. However, they faced significant challenges. Two fire tenders were deployed, but water shortages hampered their efforts. The sheer size of the crowd, coupled with the difficult terrain of the densely packed shanty town, further complicated the firefighting operation.
Harare City Council spokesperson Stanley Gama, present at the scene, explained the difficulties.
“This is a critical situation and as you can see the fire brigade is doing all it can to douse the fire. They were here at the earliest time possible and have been battling the blaze for hours. However, the fire tenders have no capacity to carry adequate water to overcome this blaze immediately. They have to keep on going back and forth to fetch water, so it will take time to put the situation under control.
“There is also the challenge of crowds and shanty structures here which make it difficult to manoeuvre. Police need to help to control crowds and people’s movements to allow firefighters to do their work unimpeded. Investigations into the fire’s cause will follow after the blaze has been extinguished, and people and goods rescued. We are doing all we can to quickly ensure this emergency is under control and people are helped,” said Gama.
Harare City Council spokesman Stanley Gama commenting last night on the fire which gutted parts of Mbare Musika in Harare, the hub of informal market activities and a symbol of informalisation of the economy amid shrinkage of the formal sector in Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/NBxQaIJYZ6
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A community-based emergency assistance group played a vital role, mobilising approximately 90,000 litres of water to supplement the fire brigade’s efforts. Police were also on the scene, attempting to manage the crowds and prevent looting.
By 1 am on Wednesday, the Harare City Council announced that the fire had been contained. Their update read: “The fire at Mbare Musika is now under control only after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) cleared the huge crowd that had gathered. Fire Tenders and water bowsers provided by the Emergency Help Group managed to gain access to the fire. Well done to the City of Harare Fire Team once again for a great job and a big thank you to ZRP and the Emergency Help Group.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The immediate priority is to assist the displaced families and begin the long process of rebuilding lives and livelihoods shattered by this devastating tragedy.
The scale of the destruction is immense, leaving a lasting scar on the heart of Harare and highlighting the vulnerability of those living in informal settlements. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved fire safety measures and emergency response capabilities in densely populated areas like Mbare Musika.
