By A Correspondent | Harare – The ZANU PF government has deflected responsibility for the catastrophic fire that ravaged Mbare Musika Retail Market onto a lowly security guard, Action Chakauya, who appeared in court today charged with negligently causing the blaze. This development comes amidst damning allegations that the fire was part of a deliberate government strategy to clamp down on illegal currency trading in the capital.
Chakauya, a 35-year-old security guard, is accused of starting the fire while on duty by lighting a small blaze to keep warm. According to the court, the fire spiraled out of control, spreading to the market and gutting hundreds of stalls. The incident, which took place earlier this week, has left traders devastated, with many losing their livelihoods overnight. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the fire a national disaster and announced government assistance for affected vendors, with reconstruction efforts already underway.
However, leaked ZANU PF communications paint a different picture. In transcripts obtained by ZimEye, a senior ZANU PF official (MC) revealed that the fire was allegedly a government-orchestrated effort to curb illegal foreign currency exchanges at Mbare Market, which the administration blames for destabilizing the beleaguered ZiG currency.
“Protecting the ZiG at Any Cost”
According to the leaked conversation between MC and a local trader (FC), the ZANU PF leadership had discussed the illegal trading of foreign currency at Mbare, which was seen as a direct threat to the government’s control over the economy. MC disclosed that President Mnangagwa, referred to as “Mukuru” in the transcript, had explicitly instructed officials to “defend the ZiG currency at all costs.” The decision to destroy the market was framed as a necessary step to disrupt these illicit activities.
“The government cannot deny it,” MC told FC in the leaked exchange. “When the meeting was held last week, the belief was that Mbare was the hotspot where money was being exchanged. So, the government cannot help you on that matter.”
Traders Left in Ruin
The leaked conversations expose the callousness with which the ZANU PF leadership dismissed the massive financial losses suffered by traders. FC, a local vendor, reportedly lost USD 50,000 in inventory and funds stored at the market. Despite this, MC indicated that the government would not compensate traders, accusing them of contributing to the currency crisis through illegal exchanges and pyramid schemes.
“Expressing anger towards the government will only make things worse,” MC warned FC. “The President has made it clear that defending the ZiG is the priority.”
These revelations come as a shock to many, especially since the government had pledged support for traders in the aftermath of the fire. The admission that the blaze may have been an intentional act to safeguard the ZiG currency adds to the growing unease among Zimbabweans struggling under economic hardships.
A Government in Denial?
The Mnangagwa administration has yet to respond to the allegations that it orchestrated the fire. For now, all eyes remain on Action Chakauya, who has been cast as the scapegoat in this unfolding saga. Chakauya is set to appear in court again on October 21 for a bail hearing, but the larger question of who is truly responsible for the destruction of Mbare Musika remains unanswered.
As the government presses forward with rebuilding efforts, the leaked transcripts raise doubts about the official narrative, leading many to question whether the state is truly acting in the best interests of its citizens or merely protecting its own economic agenda.
This breaking news will no doubt ignite further debate as Zimbabweans grapple with the implications of a government seemingly willing to sacrifice the livelihoods of its people in the name of currency stability.