Harare City Council is considering relocating traders operating at the Magaba Home Industry Complex following yet another devastating fire at the facility, with authorities citing overcrowding and widespread illegal electricity connections as major safety concerns.
The latest inferno, which broke out yesterday, has renewed calls for urgent intervention at one of the capital’s busiest informal trading hubs, where hundreds of small-scale manufacturers and traders conduct business.
The fire comes barely months after another major blaze in February destroyed property and left hundreds of traders counting heavy losses, raising fresh questions over safety standards and infrastructure at the complex.
Harare City Council Spokesperson, Stanley Gama said while the relocation of traders had not yet been formally approved by council, the issue was likely to be brought before councillors for deliberation as authorities seek a lasting solution.
“I am sure it will be tabled for discussion so that we see what we can do because it is overpopulated. It is scary,” said Gama.
He said council was exploring measures similar to those implemented at the Glen View Area 8 Complex, where traders were relocated to create a safer and better-organised trading environment.
“We are working on the best way forward. We are probably going to act the same way we did at Glen View Area 8 Complex, where we relocated traders to another place,” he said.
Gama said investigations into the cause of yesterday’s fire were still underway.
“What I know now is that there was a fire. We are not yet sure what caused it because investigations are still ongoing. But obviously, when the call came, we reacted quickly and managed to control the fire from spreading to other areas,” he said.
He noted that the incident had once again exposed longstanding challenges at the complex, particularly congestion and unsafe electricity installations.
“You know, Magaba is overpopulated. There are illegal electricity connections all over the place,” Gama said.
Magaba Home Industry Complex is one of Harare’s largest centres for informal manufacturing and metal fabrication, accommodating hundreds of traders involved in furniture production, welding, motor repairs and other small-scale enterprises.
Authorities say the combination of overcrowding, makeshift structures and illegal power connections has significantly increased the risk of recurring fires while making it difficult for emergency services to respond swiftly. Council is expected to consult stakeholders as it considers measures aimed at improving safety, protecting livelihoods and preventing future disasters at the complex.
