PROPERTY worth an estimated US$500 000 was destroyed by fire at Mutize flea market, populary known as “Little Musina”, following an inferno that consumed the facility in the early hours of Wednesday.
One of the traders Sihle Gumbo, said she had no money to restock.
"As it is right now, I am still in shock, I don't know what to do or who to turn to,” Gumbo said.
“From here I don't know what to do. This was my only source of income and right now I don't know how I am going to recover from this.”
Another trader, who only identified herself as Ncube, said she was failing to accept that all her goods worth over R300 000 were gone.
“The most painful thing is that there was absolutely nothing that I could have done to save my wares,” Ncube said.
“I just stood there and watched all my valuables go up in flames. The worst part is that my goods were not insured, so I don't know how I am going to come back from this.”
In a notice released on Wednesday, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) said the fire was discovered by a cross-border transporter who was delivering goods at the flea market.
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"The call was received at 12:27am and the first respondents from the Fire Brigade arrived on the scene at 12:33am. The Fire Brigade responded with three fire tenders, a water carrier and a bowser."
BCC’s chief fire officer Lynos Phiri said the fire was caused by an electric gadget that was left on.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) urged informal traders to insure their goods to avert losses.
Insurance schemes are being rolled out under the BVTA investment arm, Bulawayo Business Hub in partnership with Champions Insurance.
The insurance schemes include access to medical, funeral, goods and vehicle cover.
BVTA executive director Michael Ndiweni said: “What is needed now is for our stakeholders to come and assist where they can.”
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