President Mnangagwa Announces Major Overhaul for Mbare Traders’ Market

Harare, Zimbabwe – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has unveiled an ambitious redevelopment project for Mbare, promising to transform the local market, recently damaged by a government-led clearance, into a modernized hub with expanded facilities. The revitalized Mbare Traders’ Market will include a budget hotel, cold rooms, and a three-storey structure designed to accommodate up to 10,000 traders.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe shared details of the plans, emphasizing the government’s commitment to building “better and bigger” to support local commerce and enhance the infrastructure for traders. The construction project is expected to be completed within six months.

“We are now at the stage where we are finalising the design. The President directed that we should build better and bigger,” said Minister Garwe. “This has now become part of the regeneration exercise that we are launching.”

The three-storey market will feature a range of facilities tailored to traders’ needs:

Ground Floor: Dedicated space for hardware traders.

First Floor: Facilities for vegetable and perishable goods sellers, complete with cold storage to preserve fresh produce.

Top Floor: General market area for other traders.

In addition, cold rooms will support the “cold chain” for perishables, reducing spoilage and allowing farmers to sell goods without the risk of products going bad. The plans also include equipment to help preserve unsold items, such as dryers for producing dried vegetables (mufushwa) and canning facilities for tomatoes, fostering value-added products.

The design will also incorporate a budget hotel for travelers, as part of the government’s vision to transform Mbare into a vibrant commercial and cultural destination.

The announcement follows a fire disaster that affected Mbare, which officials now describe as a catalyst for an accelerated development project. Minister Garwe emphasized the government’s approach to turning challenges into opportunities for progress.

Construction is set to begin shortly, with officials promising a completed market by mid-2024.