Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the recent fire that ravaged Glen View’s Area 8 home industry complex a national disaster, opening the door for emergency government aid and recovery support for more than 600 informal traders who lost goods estimated at over US$100,000.
The inferno, which erupted over the weekend, marks the tenth fire since 2015 at the bustling Harare trading hub rekindling deep public concern over chronic fire safety failures, lack of infrastructure, and poor regulation at the site.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, who visited the scene on Monday, confirmed the disaster declaration and emphasized that the Department of Civil Protection would spearhead the recovery operation in collaboration with the City of Harare and relevant ministries.
“Once the President declares a state of disaster, we mobilise resources and provide relief,” Garwe said. The move is expected to fast-track support including temporary shelter, equipment replacements, and potentially, long-term structural upgrades to the trading complex.
The repeated blazes at Glen View Area 8 have prompted calls for a comprehensive fire safety overhaul, with critics saying reactive disaster responses are not enough to protect livelihoods built on the fragile backbone of Zimbabwe’s informal economy.
