Mbare Musika Rising: How President Mnangagwa’s Vision is Transforming Zimbabwe’s Largest Market Hub

Mbare Musika (image source)

Mbare Musika, Harare’s legendary marketplace and transport hub, is experiencing a renaissance that is already reshaping livelihoods, boosting rural-urban trade, and aligning perfectly with Zimbabwe’s broader development goals under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Second Republic.

For decades, Mbare has been the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s informal economy. Every day, truckloads of fresh produce roll in from across the country, traders shout their bargains, and buses roar to life bound for distant provinces, and cash changes hands faster than the city’s traffic lights can turn red. The market has been more than just a place of trade; it has been a survival lifeline for thousands of vendors, farmers, transporters, and customers.

Yet, for years, Mbare was also a symbol of urban decay — overcrowded stalls, dilapidated infrastructure, poor sanitation, and fire hazards threatened not only livelihoods but also public health. The rainy season often brought floods of contaminated water through the alleys, sparking fears of cholera outbreaks. That image is now changing.

President Mnangagwa has made the revitalisation of Mbare Musika a priority under the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy by 2030. The government’s commitment to upgrading the market is part of a wider push to formalise and modernise the informal sector while safeguarding jobs and improving public services.

Phase One of the new-look Mbare Musika is already complete, boasting modern trading bays, improved sanitation facilities, better drainage, and safer storage for goods. According to city officials, the upgraded space accommodates over 1,600 traders in a cleaner and more organised environment. Phase Two — set to deliver a multi-storey facility with cold storage and more retail capacity — is expected to further cement Mbare’s status as the country’s most important agro-trading hub.

The President has repeatedly emphasised that these upgrades are not just cosmetic changes but part of a national economic strategy. By giving traders dignified spaces, improving hygiene, and enhancing efficiency, the government aims to boost agricultural marketing, cut post-harvest losses, and strengthen food security for urban households.

For farmers from Mutoko, Mazowe, Gokwe, and beyond, Mbare Musika is their direct link to the urban market. The improved facilities mean they can offload produce faster, store it better, and negotiate fairer prices without the pressure of unsanitary, unsafe conditions. For urban consumers, the market continues to be a place where food prices are relatively affordable despite national inflationary pressures.

Women and youth, who make up the majority of traders, are among the biggest beneficiaries. Many women who once braved the elements in makeshift stalls now operate from secure, covered spaces, able to protect their goods from both the weather and theft. Youth, meanwhile, are finding new opportunities in transport, logistics, packaging, and digital payment solutions linked to the market’s expanded operations.

The transformation of Mbare Musika dovetails with Zimbabwe’s broader priorities: fostering economic inclusion, enhancing agricultural value chains, and creating urban environments that promote commerce and dignity. It is a microcosm of the government’s stated vision — “Leaving no one and no place behind” — and a practical example of infrastructure-led economic growth.

As Harare rolls out its Master Plan 2025–2045, which envisions better-planned marketplaces, transport nodes, and commercial districts, Mbare Musika stands as a living case study in how targeted investment can uplift communities while driving national development goals.

Where once there was chaos and decay, there is now order and promise. And as the sound of early morning trading fills the air, Mbare’s revival under Mnangagwa’s watch is more than just a facelift — it is a bold statement about the role of markets in building a prosperous Zimbabwe.