Chronicle Editor
Blessing Karubwa, Chronicle Reporter
WHEN a Chronicle news crew arrived at Mrs Laiza Anderson’s home at the corner of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Connaught Street in Bulawayo’s city centre, the woman was crying as she grappled with the loss of all her property in an inferno.
Mrs Anderson (46) and her husband Andrew Macherera (40) said they lost everything; a refrigerator, clothes, blankets, kitchen utensils among other property when a candle triggered a gas tank explosion.
All in all, three families, all tenants, were affected by the fire and only their landlord was lucky as the part of the house he occupies was not destroyed by the fire.
The fire occurred on Saturday at around 9PM and destroyed property worth over $300 000, according to the Bulawayo Fire Brigade.
Mr Macherera said a fellow tenant was awakened by choking smoke and quickly alerted others. He said the cause of the fire was a candle which was left unattended and once the gas tank exploded, the inferno was dangerously out of control.
“She was also a tenant occupying another room in the same house. She fell asleep while her 10-year-old daughter was using the candle for lighting as she was packing clothes before she also slept, leaving the candle on,” said Mr Macherera.
“The mother was awakened by choking smoke and discovered that the house was on fire so she screamed while alerting others and we all managed to escape before we could get harmed.”
Mr Macherera said they tried to take their properties out of the house which was already on fire but failed because a gas tank exploded from one of the tenant’s rooms.
“A gas tank exploded and made a frightening sound, so I immediately phoned Fire Brigade,” he said. When the Fire Brigade arrived, flames were coming through windows and the roof.
Mr Macherera said by that time, they had given up trying to put out the fire.
“The fire had already spread to the whole area covering the entire house. The fire had grown so big that we had given up trying to put it out,” said Mr Macherera.
“I was left with nothing and as we are speaking, I am putting on a t-shirt which was donated by our neighbours. It is fortunate that I got a place to sleep as my landlord permitted me to sleep in this pantry. I have a wife; I am therefore, kindly asking members of the public to help me.”
Mrs Anderson was crying while asking for donations. She was in the company of her workmates but did not say where she works.
“These are my workmates and they have given me clothes and I am in need of more help, please help me!” she said.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Linos Phiri said: “Never leave lit materials unattended before retiring to bed. Also, avoid keeping gas cylinders indoors as they fan the fire and can kill the occupants and destroy the building if they explode.” — @karubwa
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