Inferno at Mtize Flea Market: Hundreds of Informal Traders Lose Goods Worth Millions of Dollars
Goods worth millions of dollars belonging to over 200 informal traders were destroyed at Mutize Flea Market in Bulawayo following a fire broke out, early morning on Wednesday, August 30.
According to the Fire Brigade report by Chief Fire Officer, Linos Phiri the cause of the fire is suspected to have been an electric gadget left on unattended. The flea market suffered damages estimated at 100 percent, with losses estimated at a staggering ZW$80,000,000.00 with an estimated value of property saved at ZW$20,000,000.00.
“The fire was not reported promptly to the Brigade resulting in this severe damage as the tenants do admit that there were called by border transporter Victor and later called the sister Siphilisiwe who resides at 15573 Cowdray park and later called Mathew Mufunda of 12022 Pumula South who later called his fellow stall owners,” Phiri remarked.
Phiri reported that nobody lost their lives in the fire, however, the damage it caused to the businesses operating in the market was very severe.
No Injuries Sustained
The Market, which was a collection of backyard rooms used to sell an assortment of goods including clothing, groceries and gas cylinders.
“We take solace that there were no injuries or fatalities from the fire which started in the early hours of 30 August 2023, although hundreds of informal traders lost their jobs. Young people mostly young women, who were employed as shop keepers have lost their source of income,” reads the statement.
BVTA’s Information and Publicity Unit expressed its condolences to the people who lost their property in the unfortunate disaster.
“We urge authorities to declare this incident a city-wide disaster and urgently activate all systems to assist informal traders affected by the incident,” BVTA said in a statement. “We also invite well-wishers to come on board and assist informal traders in any form possible.”
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BVTA’s statement acknowledged that informal trading has become the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, with about 70% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) coming from the informal economy. The unit stated that informal cross-border traders are dotted across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and they are critical to the livelihoods of many people, particularly women.
They also noted that an investigation into the cause of the inferno is underway. They urged property owners to prioritize regular maintenance, insure premises, and asked the authorities to inspect marketplaces regularly to ensure adherence to minimum safety standards.
“The disaster is a woeful reminder of the need for informal traders to consider pursuing insurance cover for their goods,” BVTA said.
Insurance Protection
Regarding the insurance and protection of informal businesses, BVTA’s Information and Publicity Unit stated that they have tailored insurance packages for informal traders in partnership with insurance service providers such as Champions Insurance, with packages as little as USD $5 for a fire policy for stock, medical aid, hospital cashback, funeral cover, and many other unfortunate occurrences.
The inferno at Mtizwe Flea Market has sparked outrage among customers, traders, and residents.
A regular customer at Mtizwe Flea Market, Melody Shumba said, “We are at a loss because Mtizwe Flea market consisted of affordable and cheap clothes. This is where I used to buy clothes for all my family members.”
Efforts to get comments from the informal traders were futile as the traders were mourning and lamenting their loss, huddled together in small groups.
This tragic incident reminds people once again of the vulnerable nature of informal trading, which depends heavily on the working conditions and safety standards of the premises where they operate.
Last Years Inferno
Early this year, an inferno razed down the Mpopoma Outspan Association-operated informal traders complex affectionately known as ‘Esimprapekini’ along Nketa Drive in Mpopoma, destroying property worth thousands of dollars belonging to over 300 informal traders.
Lastly, BVTA urges the authorities to do more to ensure that these traders have adequate support and protection so that their livelihoods are not put at risk again.
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