…Second Republic builds back better
By Tinotenda Afarasi
The deadly fire that consumed traders’ wares and money kept at Mbare Musika Traders Market on October 8, left over 5 000 traders in despair; without anything to sell, little to eat at home and shattered dreams.
The cause of the fire ball, which swept through the market at night, is yet to be established.
But a suspect, who was a security guard at a premise nearby, has been picked up by police and appeared in court.
His case hasn’t been finalised and possibly until then, it may be difficult to know what triggered the fire.
But the Second Republic, led by the listening President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has vowed to help the traders get back to business through building back the market better and financial support which will be obtained with collateral security.
Efforts to rebuild the market have started and on completion, it will be way better to the one damaged, with good looks and accommodating more traders.
The move is in line with the Government’s desire to empower as many people as possible so they are lifted out of poverty, into prosperity.
Recently, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe updated the Cabinet on the reconstruction of the Mbare Traders Market.
In a briefing to the media after the Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said as part of the reorganisation of the Mbare Market following
The declaration of a State of Disaster by President Mnangagwa on October 14, Government has put in place a response and recovery plan under the Building Back Better programme.
Under the programme, the Government will intervene through a number of
initiatives including the provision of immediate relief in the form of livelihood support (safety nets) such as cash transfers, payment of school fees and psycho-social support and child protection.
Further, there will be an immediate resuscitation of businesses through loans, grants and other stimulus packages to assist traders with restocking of goods.
Working together with the Government, the Harare City Council provided alternative and conducive workspace, which is the open space opposite Carter House, where reconstruction takes place.
Economic empowerment programmes that support stakeholders in
rebuilding their businesses and promoting economic stability and upgrading market infrastructure to densification using two or three storey buildings and enhancing emergency response systems to prevent future fire disasters, have been considered.
Minister Muswere said an assessment carried out by the Government established that 4 695 traders (1 511 stall operators and 3 184 lessees) were directly affected by the disaster, which had a negative bearing on the livelihoods of 23 000 people.
A three floor model design is being proposed at the Mbare Musika, whereby businesses will be classified and accommodated on all the three levels.
The reconstructed main market υυυ τττ will accommodate at least 10 000 traders, said Minister Muswere.
“Work on the reconstruction of the new Mbare Musika Traders Market is expected to take seven months to complete, effective November 2024,” he said.
“The Mbare Musika Traders Market project will serve to pilot the Smart
Market concept.”
The objective of the Smart Market concept is the enhancement of the trading environment through provision of safe and modern facilities.
Affordable hotel for Mbare Musika farmers
As the new Mbare Musika Traders’ Market is being constructed, there are plans to have an affordable hotel so farmers can have decent accommodation before and after selling their products.
At the moment, farmers are travelling at night from places such as Mutoko and Murehwa to supply their produce. Consequently, so have been involved in road accidents given that a number of accidents occur at night due to poor visibility.
Other farmers sleep in the trucks that transport their produce and become unable to freshen up the following morning due to the absence of affordable accommodation.
All that is being addressed now, with cheap accommodation being put in place for the benefit of farmers.
Said Minister Garwe: “The President directed that we should build better and bigger. This has now become part of the regeneration exercise that we are launching.
“So, in a sense, the fire disaster has created opportunities upon which we are now riding on to build better and bigger. The structure will have three floors.
“Those who trade in hardware will be on the ground floor. Those who trade in vegetables and perishable items will be on the first floor.
And those who trade in other products will be on the other floor. We are expecting to accommodate 10 000 traders upon completion in six months.”
Minister Garwe said the design of the new market will include cold rooms for cold chain products and dry chain products.
“We don’t want our farmers to come and spend days at the market while their produce goes bad. We also want to promote value addition at the same time.
The unsold vegetables can be put in dryers and become mufushwa. Tomatoes can also be canned there in Mbare under the same roof.”
Minister Garwe also said there was a need to ensure farmers that get accommodation.
“Carter House, which was created for that purpose, is dilapidated. We have decided to develop Carter House into a budget hotel where farmers can go, spend the night, do their business in the morning and then go back home.”
