A FIRE broke out at the Glen View 8 SMEs complex in Harare early yesterday morning, destroying several market stalls, with authorities blaming the blaze on illegal electricity connections.
Harare City Council SMEs committee chairperson councillor Denford Ngadziore said authorities suspected the fire was caused by illegal electrical connections that ignited when power was restored after load-shedding.
He said council mobilised over 60 000 litres of water to be used by the fire crew in putting out the blaze.
Although firefighters managed to stop the fire from spreading further, lack of functional fire hydrants at the complex posed as a major challenge.
“All fire hydrants at the complex have either been vandalised or blocked, which continues to pose a serious challenge during emergencies,” Ngadziore stated.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have started due to a power surge when electricity was restored.
Authorities also believe that illegal wiring and poorly secured cable joints significantly increased the risk of a fire outbreak.
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The incident comes as plans to relocate the informal traders to Glen View 3 near Chemhanza Grounds are at an advanced stage.
The move is aimed at addressing long-standing safety and infrastructure issues at the old complex.
The extent of the damage will be officially quantified following ongoing investigations.
