The Glen View Area 8 Home Industry Complex in Harare was gutted by fire once more in the early hours of Sunday, 17 May.
The furniture-manufacturing hub has suffered at least 14 major fires over the past two decades, with total losses estimated at more than US$3 million.
The complex is a vital economic lifeline for thousands of families and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking yesterday, Civil Protection Unit chief director Nathan Nkomo said the Government plans to fast-track the reconstruction and reorganisation of the complex. He added that work is now underway to restore water and electricity.
“We are here together with the highest level of provincial leadership at this complex, and whatever sentiments they express here become policy because we recommend that to Cabinet,” said Nkomo.
“We need to quickly address the issues of water and the issues of electricity so that reconstruction efforts at Glen View Area 8 can begin without delay.
“Cabinet has already made a decision that we must come up with a structured plan for this place, and we are now moving to expedite that process together with provincial leadership, investors and other stakeholders.”
On Sunday, hundreds of traders were left counting their losses in what is believed to be one of the worst disasters to hit the country’s informal manufacturing sector in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan, Charles Tawengwa, said alternative sites have been identified to relocate traders from the Glen View 8 Complex to allow rehabilitation work to go ahead.
The Minister was speaking after touring the area, which was engulfed by fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said authorities are working on measures to accommodate the affected traders while plans to redevelop the complex are put in place.
More: The Herald
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