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Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THOUSANDS of tonnes of processed cotton bales – worth millions of United States of America dollars – were early this morning (Monday) reduced to ashes after a fire broke out at Parogatte Ginnery at Checheche Growth Point in Chipinge.
The destroyed bales belonged to four companies – Cottco, Consolidated Cotton of Zimbabwe, Shawasha Cotton and Southern Cotton – that bring raw cotton to Parrogate for ginning.
Member of House of Assembly for Chipinge South, Cde Enock Porusingazi confirmed the sad development and said both the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage were still being assessed.
Cde Porusingazi said the fire started around 3am in the storage area where bales ready for dispatch are kept.
Cde Porusingazi said although the vicious fire was put under control by fire fighters from Green Fuel and Buffalo Range, it will take the next few days to completely extinguish it.
“The cotton bales that were gutted by the fire belonged to four companies (Cottco, the Consolidated Cotton of Zimbabwe, Shawasha Cotton and Southern Cotton) which hire the Parrogate ginnery to process the lint for export.
“The cause of the fire is not yet established, but it occurred around 3am. We are grateful to the swift reaction from Green Fuel and Buffalo Range fire squads that helped to put out the fire. The fire was threatening to destroy the entire ginnery and the neighbouring complex. Preliminary indications are that it may take them two to three days to completely extinguish the fire,” said Cde Porusingazi.
Efforts to get a comment from Parrogate officials were fruitless.
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