Police have launched investigations into the fire that tore through Mbare’s Magaba Market early yesterday, with affected traders now calling for urgent support as the full scale of the damage becomes clearer.
When authorities returned to the scene Friday morning, vendors were still sifting through debris, estimating losses running into thousands of dollars.
“I have lost nearly US$10 000 worth of goods,” said furniture maker Onismo Nyazvigo, who returned to assess the damage for a second day.
“The machinery, the tools… everything I worked for is gone. I am appealing to anyone who can help. I am starting from zero.”
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His colleague Fadzai Chikopo, who yesterday said he had lost all his materials, described the aftermath as “a nightmare that is not ending.”
“We could not retrieve a single piece of wood,” he said.
“Today we came back hoping to salvage something, but there is nothing.”
Traders say the fire moved too fast to control.
Investigators from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Civil Protection Unit spent the morning interviewing witnesses and inspecting what remains of the destroyed stalls.
Furniture maker Gift Tinevimbo said the biggest pressure they now face is from clients who had paid deposits.
“People want answers,” he said.
“We don’t know where to start. Even raising money for one plank of wood is now difficult.”
Metalwork traders, whose section was spared, expressed relief but urged authorities to strengthen safety measures.
“We are grateful the fire was contained,” said welder Arnold Kuziva.
“But this shows how vulnerable the market is. Something needs to be done urgently.”
