Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Gwanda District Civil Protection Committee has begun mobilising resources to assist two families who lost their property and other valuables in a fire triggered by a gas explosion at the weekend.
The families were sharing a house in Jacaranda Extension suburb in Gwanda Town when the incident occurred on Monday at around 8PM.
Gwanda District Civil Protection Committee chairperson Ms Nomathemba Ndlovu said priority interventions included securing temporary accommodation for the affected families, providing food supplies and mobilising clothing.
She said relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Social Development, Gwanda Municipality and the local Member of Parliament, would be engaged to coordinate assistance.
“The Civil Protection Committee has been activated to assess the extent of the damage and determine the necessary interventions. The immediate priorities include finding accommodation for the affected families. We have engaged the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) so that the families can be accommodated at the DDF training centre in Gwanda.
“We have also engaged the Department of Social Development to mobilise resources such as clothing and food items for the affected families. We will also engage stakeholders such as the local Member of Parliament and the municipality to mobilise resources to assist the families,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu urged members of the public to exercise caution when handling flammable substances such as fuel and gas, while ensuring they had readily available contact details for emergency services, including the fire brigade, Civil Protection Committee, ambulance services and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
One of the affected residents, Ms Ntandoyenkosi Moyo, is temporarily staying at a neighbour’s house after losing her property in the fire.
Ms Moyo, who lives with her three children and two-year-old grandchild, said the family had failed to salvage any of their belongings but escaped unharmed because most occupants were seated outside when the explosion occurred.
“I stay with my three children, one grandchild and also my cousin’s family, which was using another section of the house. The other family was living under the care of a 20-year-old domestic worker who was looking after five children aged between nine and 16 years.
“I was seated outside with the children at around 8 PM while the domestic worker and some of the children were cooking using a gas stove. There was an explosion in the house and they ran out. Luckily, no one was hurt,” she said.
Ms Moyo said the gas stove regulator reportedly became disconnected from the pipe while the appliance was in use, triggering the fire.
She said the blaze destroyed all their furniture, clothing, important documents, cash and other valuable possessions.
Ward councillor Mr Knowledge Ndlovu said he was alerted to the incident by a neighbour and immediately contacted the fire brigade.
He said efforts were underway to mobilise assistance from residents in the ward to support the affected families.
Those wishing to assist financially can send their contributions to Mr Evidence Nyathi through EcoCash on 0778 462 881, he said.
