Harare City Council is undertaking works at Chemhanza Home Industry Park to address recurring fire outbreaks and improve working conditions for informal sector operators through the development of larger workspaces, wider access roads, improved water reticulation and a dedicated electricity supply.
Architect Tobias James Chombe, Head of the Architecture Department at Harare City Council, pointed out, during yesterday’s COMESA Media Tour in Harare, that the works were intended to address challenges associated with recurring fires while providing traders and artisans with improved facilities for conducting their businesses.
“The works at Chemhanza Home Industry Park are underway to address the recurring fire outbreaks that have affected operations at the site. We are looking at developing infrastructure that improves safety and provides a more suitable working environment for the people operating there.
“The design provides for larger workspaces, which will allow operators to conduct their activities in better conditions. We are also providing wider roads to improve accessibility and ensure that movement within the park is easier,” Chombe said.
He added that improved access was an important consideration in the redevelopment, particularly in ensuring that emergency services could reach affected areas more effectively during incidents.
“Access is an important component of the design. The wider roads are intended to improve movement within the site and support access to the workspaces, including when emergency services need to respond to incidents,” he said.
Chombe said adequate water reticulation was also included in the plans to strengthen the park’s capacity to respond to fire emergencies and improve the availability of water for its operations.
“We have incorporated adequate water reticulation into the design because water provision is an important consideration in improving safety at the site. The infrastructure must support the needs of the operators while addressing the challenges associated with fire outbreaks,” he said.
The project also includes a dedicated power supply to improve efficiency for businesses operating at the park.
“We are providing a dedicated power supply as part of the infrastructure improvements. This is intended to address electricity requirements within the park and create a more reliable environment for business operations,” Chombe said.
In addition, the design features rooftop solar panels to support sustainable energy use and complement the conventional electricity supply.
“The inclusion of rooftop solar panels is part of the approach to incorporating sustainable energy solutions into the development. We want the facilities to accommodate business activities while taking advantage of renewable energy,” he said.
The improvements at Chemhanza Home Industry Park are expected to strengthen safety, accessibility and infrastructure provision for informal sector operators, whose activities contribute to employment creation and livelihoods in Harare.
