Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
A fire broke out on Tuesday morning at the DST market in Gweru, destroying furniture manufacturing, clothing and textiles, as well as electrical appliances repair and assembly stalls.
The blaze affected over 50 traders, causing substantial losses to both stock and market structures. Starting around 11 am, the fire rapidly consumed the market’s wooden structures, including beds, couches, wardrobes, and kitchen units, before being brought under control by the Gweru City Council (GCC) Fire Brigade.
While investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, furniture manufacturers at DST suspect that it could have been caused by an electrical fault engulfing nine stalls with property inside worth thousands of United States dollars.
The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube accompanied by GCC Mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko visited the market earlier today.
“Thanks to the swift response of the Gweru City Council fire brigade the fire was contained before it could spread further. I commend the local authority for their prompt action and effective management of the situation. The fire tenders used here were sourced using devolution funds. So we are grateful to the Second Republic for the fire tenders that are now being used in cases of emergency such as this one,” he said.
Clr Chivhoko said it was rather unfortunate that the traders had lost their valuables in the fire.
“Our fire department responded swiftly to the distress call. I call upon all traders in the city to adhere to municipal by-laws and operate within the confines of the law to ensure safety and order,” he said.
Mr Farai Nemakonde, a furniture manufacturer said the fire started from the breaker in one of the stalls at the market place.
“The fire started around 11 am and I was alerted when it had engulfed many shops. What is left from my stall is a metal rack which I am now using to clear the charcoal,” he said.
Ms Netsai Phiri, one of the traders at the market, said the fire incident left her counting her losses.
“The fire broke out around mid-morning today and it destroyed all that was in its path. An assortment of goods that include wardrobes, headboards, kitchen units, sofas, sewing machines, fridges and generators were burnt to ashes,” she said.
