Harare, (New Ziana) –The Government plans to construct a state-of-the-art trading facility for small and medium entrepreneurs who operate at the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry which was partly razed by fire over the weekend.
The City of Harare Fire Brigade made a swift response to the fire, avoiding further damages and losses. A reported 700 traders had their property worth an estimated US$100 000 destroyed by the fire, whose cause is yet to be ascertained.
It is not the first time that fire has gutted the complex, with three major incidents reported in 2018 and recently traders have been left counting their loses after unexplained fire breakouts in the past few years.
On Monday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe toured the ravaged area in gthe company of his Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development counterpart Monica Mutsvangwa, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume and Harare Metropolitan province permanent secretary Cosmas Chiringa and assured the traders that the government will chip in to assist them.
“We are very sorry about this unfortunate incident as it does not only affect you but your families and your potential customers. It is well-known that many people come from all parts of the country to purchase furniture here, either for home use or for re-sell. Only in October last year, Mbare Musika was destroyed by fire and the Government chipped in with a new, modern structure and the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry victims will not be an exception,” said Garwe.
“As Government, we are aware of the situation that you are in at the moment and all stakeholders will meet to chart the way forward. When the construction of the Mbare Musika Phase 2 begins in September, that is the same time we want to start the construction of the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry. During construction time, our traders will be temporarily relocated to open grounds at nearby schools. This home industry will never be affected by fire again.” Garwe added that the idea to have a well-structured facility at the home industry was planned under the Ministry’s Urban Re-Generation framework.
He said the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has been charged to come up with the actual number and identities of traders whose businesses were affected by the fire. Speaking at the same occasion,
Mutsvangwa said it was important that the traders be assisted as the sector contributes more than 60 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“President Mnangagwa wants our SMEs to be given adequate support so that their businesses can continue to thrive and contribute to the development of our economy. At the same time, I would like to urge our SMEs to be organised and insure their products. When this place is transformed, those who are already operating here will be the priority beneficiaries,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mafume said it was the wish of the City of Harare to mark an end to the fires that destroy furniture at the home industry every year. “We are pained by this inferno and we want to end this problem once and for all. If we unite as Ministries and Government departments, this can be achieved,” he said.
Tawanda Utete, chairperson of the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry management committee, appealed for immediate Government intervention to assist the affected traders.
New Ziana
