Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) notes with concern and sadness the outbreak of fire in the Mbare Musika area last night.
Whilst the cause is yet to be ascertained, some reports allude to candles left unattended, as the area was under load shedding at the time. The fire left destruction in its wake, as informal traders market stalls went up in flames, with some risking life and limb battling to recover their wares left overnight in storage. The fire is said to have spread to nearby dwellings, rendering many homeless, and our thoughts are with them.
To the uninitiated, the Mbare Musika area is the mecca of many farmers who come and dispose their produce everyday at wholesale prices. It is also a major transit point where people board long distance buses to all corners of the country.
Given the high levels of informality in the country, it is no exaggeration that any disruption at this major cash trading point, will have severe consequences for all in the informal economy ecosystem.
As VISET, we believe that it is time for the govermment to take action through central government and local authorities to ensure that proper modern market structures are erected in Mbare, other fire prone areas like the furniture market in Glen View Area 8, and indeed other markets countrywide to safeguard against further losses, in an already unforgiving economic environment. We are aware that many politically exposed persons from the main parties would want to see the situation continue as it has been for their own corrupt reasons, but we believe the time to act is now before another catastrophe befalls these areas.
It remains our hope that the Formalisation Strategy initiated by government, in which we as an organization have played a pivotal role, will finally be adopted and implemented, as we believe this would be the ideal vehicle through which we can address the dire need for affordable, safe, and modern markets!
