A fire outbreak in the early hours of July 12, 2025, has left more than 500 traders counting losses after flames swept through the historic Mashine Tatu Market in Iringa Municipality, reducing hundreds of stalls to ashes and bringing daily economic activities to a halt.
According to local authorities, the inferno destroyed 429 stalls located inside the market and 86 external kiosks, affecting traders dealing in fresh produce, poultry, household goods, and food services.
Witnesses say the fire started around 2 a.m. and spread rapidly across the market, overwhelming efforts to contain it. The cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed.
“We saw heavy smoke coming from the centre of the market. Within minutes, the entire place was in flames. It was impossible to save anything,” said Emmanuel Lyimo, a resident living near the market.
The situation was made worse by the malfunctioning of the first fire truck that arrived at the scene. Iringa Regional Fire and Rescue Commander, Senior Superintendent Jackline Mtui, confirmed that the emergency team received the alert through the national emergency number 114 and responded quickly.
“Unfortunately, our first engine developed a technical fault upon arrival. We had to deploy another vehicle, but by then the fire had already done significant damage,” she said.
Many of the affected traders, who relied entirely on their businesses for survival, were left in shock.
“I’ve lost everything. My entire stock is gone. I have a bank loan, and now I don’t know how I’ll repay it,” said Sophia Mwakitalima, who sold household goods at the market.
Another trader, Godfrey Mgonja, who dealt in poultry, said he had invested over TZS 2 million in his business. “I have no capital left. We urgently need support to rebuild,” he said.
Iringa Municipal Markets Chairperson Raphael Ngulo described the incident as a major blow to the town’s informal economy and appealed for urgent intervention from the government and development partners.
“This is not just a loss for individual traders, but a setback for the entire local economy. We need both short-term relief and long-term recovery plans,” he said.
Iringa District Commissioner Benjamin Sitta said authorities were working to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate support for victims.
“We are still conducting a thorough assessment. Our aim is to ensure affected traders receive the necessary assistance to restart their lives,” he said.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has also pledged support. Salim Abli, a National Executive Committee Member, said the party was exploring ways to assist those affected.
Mashine Tatu Market is one of the oldest and most popular commercial centres in Iringa. For decades, it has provided livelihoods for hundreds of small-scale traders and served thousands of customers from surrounding communities.
This incident marks the first major fire disaster in the market’s history, and its impact is expected to be felt for months, if not years, to come.
As the ashes settle, the resilience of Iringa’s trading community will now be tested in the face of this devastating loss.