Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
A COMMERCIAL building in Harare’s downtown area was engulfed in flames in the afternoon today leading to significant financial losses for grocery businesses.
The fire, suspected to have originated from an electrical fault, completely destroyed the XGX Mall, which housed over 40 tuckshops.
When The Herald news crew arrived, chaos reigned as traders scrambled to salvage what they could from the inferno.
Three fire tenders were battling the blaze, supported by six water tanks provided by the Emergency Help Group.
Mr Chamunorwa Mukova, chairman of the Zimbabwe Tuckshop Association, assessed the damage and reported that more than 40 traders lost thousands of dollars in groceries and merchandise.
Many of these businesses had just begun operating in the newly constructed mall.
“I can say over 40 traders here have been affected. They have been left with nothing, and we are appealing to the Government to intervene with a helping hand,” he said.
Harare’s acting assistant chief fire officer, Mr Moses Bvumavaranda, confirmed that they received a report of the fire around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and rushed to the scene.
However, by the time they arrived, the building had already collapsed under the intensity of the flames.
Online Reporter