Staff Reporter

The long-awaited Mbare Musika Traders Mall in Harare is finally complete and set to open its doors on Friday, bringing a wave of relief and renewed hope to hundreds of vendors who lost their livelihoods in a devastating fire late last year.

With capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 traders, the newly built facility marks a major milestone in the government’s efforts to restore and modernize informal trading spaces in the capital.

A high-level government delegation visited the site yesterday to assess final preparations ahead of the official commissioning, which is scheduled for Friday and will be presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We came as ministers to inspect progress before the official commissioning, and we are pleased with what we have seen,” said the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe.

Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Charles Tawengwa,confirmed that while the first phase of the market is now complete, final discussions are underway to finalize stall allocations for the traders.

“The government is working closely with the traders to ensure a smooth allocation process, and once that is done, they will move in immediately,” said Senator Tawengwa.

The project was made possible through a collaborative effort involving the central government, Harare City Council, and other stakeholders, showcasing a model for successful public-private partnerships.

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume hailed the inclusive approach, saying, “We commend the government for adopting a stakeholder-driven model which has delivered real benefits to traders who are the backbone of our local economy.”

Chairperson of the Mbare Retail Traders Association, Erasmus Bofo highlighted that they are truly grateful to the government for this support.

“We never thought we would get such a facility after the fire destroyed our wares,” said Bofo.

In a further show of commitment to uplifting informal traders, the government has also revealed plans to modernize the Glenview Area 8 complex, another vital trading hub for small to medium enterprises.

The completion of the Mbare Musika Traders Mall signals a new era of dignity, safety, and opportunity for informal traders, while reinforcing the role of collaboration in driving urban renewal.