KAWE Market on the northern reaches of the city of Dar es Salaam was yesterday ravaged by an extensive fire outbreak, leaving traders in shock and financial distress as their stalls and goods were going up in flames early in the morning.

Jacob Chacha, the Kinondoni Regional Fire and Rescue Force acting commander, confirmed the incident, telling media organs that a formal statement on the cause of the fire will be released once the ongoing investigation is completed. "We are still assessing the situation," he said.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of informal markets and underscores the urgent need for modern infrastructure and safety measures to protect traders' livelihoods.

Traders on the scene said that the inferno has left many traders without a source of income, worrying about how they will repay loans and support their families after the fire consumed nearly all the stalls.

"We've lost everything. All the goods we were selling have been burned. We have nowhere to start again without government help," one distraught trader said while sifting through the ashes.

The majority of traders relied on the market’s income to repay loans from financial institutions, and this loss now puts them at risk of defaulting, they said,

Hamis Walid, a trader whose stall was completely destroyed, appealed for government assistance, specifically for low-cost loans to help them restart their businesses.  "A large percentage of the traders here live on loans," he asserted.

Deus Mkude, another trader, said the rapid spread of the fire was a key factor in the extensive damage, as the stalls made of wood and iron sheets caught fire quickly and efforts to extinguish the blaze were hampered by a lack of water.

"The fire engine arrived, but water ran out. They had to leave to get more," he recounted, underlining that none of the affected traders had fire insurance, a major challenge in recovering from the disaster.

Zawadi Kimaro, a chicken vendor whose section was spared from the fire, reported that they have been barred from doing business, claiming that people who came to help during the blaze stole some chickens that had been rescued from their coops.

Albert Chalamila, the regional commissioner, announced short- and long-term plans to assist the traders and rebuild the market, directing the Kinondoni municipality executive director to urgently release 100m/- to help affected traders.

"This money is not for one person; it is for all who have been affected," he said, insisting that a transparent distribution process will be put in place, while ordering temporary relocation of traders to Tanganyika Packers grounds to allow for rebuilding the market.

The envisaged market will be modern and well-structured, a significant upgrade from the previous temporary stalls. He also stressed the importance of safety and preparedness, mandating that all traders must have fire insurance before returning to the rebuilt market.

"If insurance had been in place today, traders would have been compensated," he said, hinting that the city authorities will not allow anyone to start a business without being party to an insurance arrangement.

The rapid spread of the fire was likely to have been due to a dangerous mix of businesses, with gas, firewood and charcoal vendors operating near food stalls, he declared, strongly condemning those who stole from the traders during the fire.

Yusufu Abdallah, an elder in the vicinity urged the thieves to return the stolen goods before a vengeful public prayer is held.