By
Costa
Nkomo
The
original
Mbare
Traders
Market
was
destroyed
by
fire
last
month,
affecting
over
4,500
traders
and
causing
millions
of
dollars
in
losses.
The
government
responded
swiftly,
promising
to
support
the
traders
and
to
develop
a
modern
market
infrastructure
aimed
at
enhancing
tax
revenue
from
local
commerce.
At
a
recent
post-cabinet
media
briefing,
the
Local
Government
Minister
described
the
fire
as
a
“blessing
in
disguise,”
creating
an
opportunity
to
build
improved
facilities.
Local
Government
Minister
Daniel
Garwe
handed
over
the
temporary
site
to
Masimba
Holdings
at
a
ceremony
attended
by
Information
Minister
Jenfan
Muswere,
Harare
Metropolitan
Province
Minister
Charles
Tavengwa,
Women’s
Affairs
Minister
Monica
Mutsvangwa,
Harare
Mayor
Jacob
Mafume,
and
several
city
councillors.
When
questioned
about
the
selection
process,
Mayor
Mafume
confirmed
that
no
tender
process
was
followed,
citing
the
urgency
of
the
situation.
“This
was
an
emergency,
declared
a
national
disaster
by
cabinet,
so
there
was
no
tendering.
The
focus
was
on
quick,
efficient
execution
to
avoid
delays,”
Mafume
explained.
Masimba
Holdings
Limited,
formerly
known
as
Murray
and
Roberts
Limited,
is
a
major
Zimbabwean
engineering
and
infrastructure
firm
serving
the
agriculture,
commercial,
and
transport
sectors,
among
others.
During
the
event,
Minister
Mutsvangwa
faced
backlash
from
traders
after
mentioning
that
approximately
US$2
million
circulates
daily
within
the
Mbare
market.