Online Reporter
Sinokubonga Nkala
Bulawayo is under fire, literally, as cars packed with gas cylinders keep going up in flames, turning roads into real-life action movie sets. Two horrifying explosions have shocked residents in recent weeks, the first being a terrifying Car-BQ outside Mayenziwe Shopping Centre in Nkulumane.
On 20 May 2025, witnesses described the moment a Honda Fit exploded into a fiery inferno, blasting flames into the air and reducing the vehicle to a twisted Chargrilled Chariot.
“It sounded like a bomb. We saw a flash, then the car was engulfed in fire. It was like a scene from Fast & Furious,” said resident Phumzile Dube.
According to Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo, the blaze was triggered by a 48kg gas cylinder being transported inside the car. A leak combined with extreme heat turned the ride into a ticking time bomb.
“The vehicle caught fire due to a gas leak in the confined space of the car. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the vehicle was completely destroyed,” said Moyo.
As if one explosion wasn’t enough, just days later on 27 May, another Honda Fit met the same fiery fate near Amakhosi Cultural Centre.
The driver had just refilled his cylinder in town and was cruising home when disaster struck.
“He noticed a gas smell and pulled over. But the moment he turned the ignition, the vehicle exploded,” said Moyo.
“We suspect static electricity triggered the blast from the leaked gas.”
The burnt-out wreckage was a chilling reminder that transporting gas carelessly is a gamble with death. Residents said the car became a full-blown Grill-on-Wheels, lighting up the intersection.
“People treat gas like groceries, throwing it in the back seat. It’s madness,” fumed local kombi driver Thulani “Wafa Wafa” Ncube.
“We are sitting on ticking bombs. These guys sell gas on every corner but don’t teach anyone safety,” added Nketa resident Sandra Mpofu.
Chief Fire Officer Moyo says the city has tried to raise awareness.
“We’ve been on Skies Metro and done campaigns, but people are not taking gas safety seriously,” he said.
