Thee Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), George Charamba, has highlighted that the recent fire at Mbare Musika creates opportunitiesto reorganise Zimbabwe’s largest informal market.
The fire, which occurred on Tuesday night, destroyed numerous stalls and goods, leaving hundreds of traders devastated.
The scene was a haunting mix of broken pottery, partly burnt bags of sugar beans, remains of kapenta fish, and fragments of solar panels.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and as of yesterday, authorities were still investigating how the inferno started.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) this Thursday, Charamba proposed that Mbare Musika should be reorganised to ensure that traders are properly housed.
He suggested implementing point-of-sale (POS) systems linked to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) at each selling booth to integrate Mbare Musika into the national tax system, ensuring that informal traders contribute to the country’s revenue.
Charamba also called for the introduction of proper lighting throughout the market to improve safety and security, as well as to create new opportunities for tax collection by extending trading hours and attracting more customers.
According to Charamba, reorganising Mbare Musika for better access will significantly benefit its vast clientele.
He added that authorities could consider enlisting the military to assist in building new condominiums around the market, pending the demolition of Matapi flats, to pave the way for a new, decent housing programme.
