Ubungo District Commissioner Albert Msando has said authorities have completed more than 200 new stalls for traders at Simu 2000 market, just three weeks after a fire destroyed the area.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Msando said the government moved quickly after the incident to both investigate the fire and restore business activity at the market.
“I am here at Simu 2000 market. After the fire, we were instructed by the President to first investigate, but also ensure traders return to normal operations,” he said.
He said the area was cleared in time and new stalls were built to allow traders to resume work without long delays.
“We have cleaned the area and built more than 200 new stalls for these traders. Within three weeks, we have brought them back,” he said.
Msando also credited support from national leaders, including the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Local Government, and Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila, saying their involvement helped speed up the rebuilding.
A major fire broke out at Simu 2000 market on April 4, 2026, destroying more than 500 stalls and leaving hundreds of small traders without stock or income.
The fire started in the evening and spread quickly through the market’s temporary structures, making it difficult to contain in the early stages.
While some sections, including food vendors, were not heavily affected, the damage caused major economic losses to traders and the Ubungo Municipal Council.
The cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed. Some traders raised concerns at the time, linking the incident to ongoing tensions over relocation plans, though authorities have not verified those claims.
Government leaders visited the site shortly after the fire and promised a fast recovery process, including cleanup, damage assessment, and support to help traders return to business.
