The Mt Hagen City Market officially reopened for business on Tuesday, 10 November, following a nearly month-long closure triggered by an internal fight that resulted in fatalities.

Western Highlands Acting Provincial Police Commander and Station Commander, Stephen Philipo, confirmed the reopening after law-and-order issues surrounding the incident were addressed. Three suspects have been arrested and remain in police custody, while relatives of the suspects completed bel kol (pre-compensation) payments last week to ease tensions with the aggrieved parties.

Prior to the reopening, police and authorities conducted public awareness campaigns, maintaining a strong security presence on site as gates opened.

Police have issued a stern call to youths and all citizens to respect market regulations and refrain from bringing offensive weapons, illicit drugs, or alcohol into the facility.

Mothers and informal vendors who rely on daily market sales to support their families expressed widespread relief at the reopening.

Local vendor Janet Konney shared that she had been forced to halt her business for the past three weeks during the closure. She noted that traveling to alternative selling points at Okaipana and Top Town was financially draining for many mothers, particularly as one-way PMV bus fares increased to K2 amid rising fuel costs.

Similarly, Mercy Wawi, a vendor from Tambul, highlighted that the reopening benefits both farmers and city residents, restoring a central hub where customers can conveniently purchase fresh produce.

The market’s reopening coincides with nearly a week of welcome rainfall across Western Highlands Province, bringing much-needed relief to local agriculture and households affected by prolonged dry weather.

Broccoli farmer and market vendor David Wawi described the rain as "divine intervention," explaining that he had been manually hauling buckets of water from a nearby river to save his crops and was on the verge of giving up due to physical exhaustion.

In addition to reviving gardens, the steady rainfall has replenished household water tanks and drums across Mt Hagen’s urban settlements, while settling heavy dust along gravel roads that had previously caused respiratory discomfort and poor visibility for motorists and pedestrians.