The
blaze,
which
started
on
Sunday
morning,
is
the
second
to
hit
the
furniture-manufacturing
hub
in
less
than
a
month,
following
a
similar
incident
on
27
July
2025,
also
on
a
Sunday.
The
Harare
Fire
Brigade
managed
to
extinguish
the
flames
by
afternoon,
but
not
before
significant
destruction
had
occurred.
Authorities
are
investigating
the
cause
of
the
fire,
the
extent
of
the
damage,
and
the
losses
incurred.
Harare
City
Council’s
Small
and
Medium
Enterprises
Committee
chairperson,
Councillor
Denford
Ngadziore,
said
the
Chemhanza
area
in
Glen
View
3
had
been
identified
for
the
temporary
relocation
of
affected
traders.
Last
month’s
fire
destroyed
approximately
25
per
cent
of
the
complex,
leaving
roughly
700
traders
to
count
their
losses.
While
the
exact
cause
has
not
yet
been
confirmed,
investigators
suspect
it
may
have
been
triggered
by
an
unattended
brazier
or
an
illegal
electricity
connection.
Following
the
July
incident,
Local
Government
and
Public
Works
Minister
Daniel
Garwe
announced
that
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
had
declared
the
fire
incident
a
state
of
disaster.
Such
a
declaration
extends
beyond
public
health
concerns
and
is
aimed
at
addressing
emergencies,
including
natural
disasters,
explosions,
acts
of
terrorism,
or
sieges.
Garwe
further
pledged
that
the
reconstruction
of
the
Glen
View
complex
would
include
improved
road
infrastructure,
water
reticulation,
food
courts,
and
modern
fire
safety
systems.
He
also
called
for
the
compilation
of
a
verified
list
of
affected
traders
to
ensure
targeted
assistance
through
the
Department
of
Civil
Protection.