Traders were left heartbroken and counting their losses after over 50 stalls were gutted by fire at Gweru DST market yesterday.
A fierce fire broke out at approximately 11:00 AM on Wednesday at the DST trading complex in Gweru, completely consuming over fifty vendor stalls within minutes. The fast-moving flames devoured wooden market structures and everything inside them, including furniture inventories, clothing stocks, textiles, and electronics repair workshops.
Over 50 Stalls Gutted By Fire At Gweru DST Market
Local artisans and shop owners watched in horror as their businesses were reduced to ashes. The fire consumed valuable inventory, including refrigerators, generators, sofas, bedroom sets, wardrobes, and industrial sewing machines, essential tools for many small business operators.
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Farai Nemakonde, a furniture craftsman who operated in the market, described the devastating scene:
“I arrived to find my entire workshop engulfed in flames. Everything I’ve worked for is gone—all that remains is a metal framework covered in soot.”
Gweru’s municipal fire department responded promptly to the emergency, deploying multiple fire engines to contain the destructive blaze. Their rapid intervention prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent properties.
Midlands Provincial Minister Owen Ncube and Gweru Mayor Martin Chivhoko visited the disaster site to assess the damage and offer support to affected business owners. Minister Ncube acknowledged the critical role of emergency equipment obtained through devolution funding, while Mayor Chivhoko emphasised the importance of adhering to municipal safety regulations.
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Traders Facing Uncertain Future
As investigators work to determine the exact cause of the catastrophic event, with preliminary reports suggesting an electrical malfunction, the local trading community faces a significant challenge in recovering from this devastating setback. For many informal traders, the market was their sole source of income, and rebuilding will require a substantial amount of time and resources.
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The post Traders Left Counting Losses After Over 50 Stalls Gutted By Fire At Gweru DST Market appeared first on iHarare News.
