A massive fire ripped through Mbare Musika, Harare’s largest informal market, on Tuesday night, leaving hundreds of traders counting substantial losses and raising serious questions about the market’s safety and infrastructure.
The blaze, which is believed to have started around 8pm near a storage area containing brooms, quickly spread through the densely packed market, reducing numerous stalls and their contents to ashes. Yesterday, parts of the market still smouldered, a stark testament to the scale of the destruction.
Witnesses reported a swift response from both the police and the Harare Fire Brigade, but the speed at which the fire spread, fuelled by the nature of the goods and the wooden stall structures, overwhelmed efforts to contain it completely.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. While conflicting accounts emerged, with some suggesting arson and others pointing to a discarded cigarette, Harare Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume stated on X (formerly Twitter): “We will wait for our professionals to tell us the cause of the fire after investigations. 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.”
The scale of the tragedy is further underscored by Zanu PF councillor for Ward 4 in Mbare, Boniface Maburutse, who estimates that approximately 2000 people and a vast amount of property were affected by the fire.
Zanu PF councillor for Ward 4 in Mbare, Harare, Boniface Maburutse, says about 2000 people and a vast swathe of properties were affected by the devastating fire which razed down Mbare Musika – the informal sector market hub in the capital – on Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/c6h2YnaZYN
— TheNewsHawks (@NewsHawksLive) October 10, 2024
Harare City Council spokesperson, Stanley Gama, echoed the call for modernisation, stating: “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.
“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.”
The human cost of the fire is immense. Traders recounted heartbreaking stories of loss, with some estimating losses in the thousands of US dollars.
Maonei Kadyakumbuka, for example, reported losing US$10 000 worth of hardware, stating: “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, described himself as “confused and heartbroken,” while Malvin Nyika, who lost US$1500, expressed feelings of hopelessness.
Esnath Pindura, who lost virtually everything, highlighted the additional trauma of looting during the chaos: “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 had just restocked his garlic and ginger stall, lost his entire US$600 investment.
Phineas Munyayi, speaking on behalf of many affected traders, pleaded for assistance: “Mbare is the centre of Harare and we are asking for help because we have lost so much. We had uniforms, books, radios and other essential items that are now gone.”
Christopher Moyo described the scene as chaotic, with looters disrupting emergency services: “Many people took advantage and started stealing while others were battling to contain the fire. It was chaos and the police had to battle with the thieves.”
