Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, [email protected]
Property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening at the popular Speed market at Tshitaudze Business Centre in Beitbridge.
The fire is alleged to have started from a stall which was being used to keep fuel by vendors operating at the business centre.
According to witnesses, one of the vendors tried to siphon petrol from a container while holding a lit cigarette resulting in the fire.
The fire then spread rapidly across two rows of market stalls destroying property worth thousands of dollars.
Beitbridge Municipality acting Town Clerk, Mr Sathulani Moyo said the local authority was still assessing the damages on the ground.
“Our team is on the ground compiling the damages and we will issue an update report ata later stage,” he said.
Beitbridge West legislator Cde Thusani Ndou and the Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe have since toured the area to offer compassionate support to the informal traders.
“This is a huge blow to the livelihoods of the traders and their families. We need to sit down as local stakeholders together with the Municipality to see how best we can assist the affected people,” said Cde Ndou.
Bongani Ndlovu