Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
CHAOS erupted in Bulawayo’s city centre on Tuesday evening when a fire tore through the Sterling Plaza building, leaving vendors in shock and watching helplessly as their goods went up in smoke.
The blaze, believed to have started around 5pm, gutted sections of the building along Jason Moyo street, which houses several SMEs selling items such as blankets, clothes, and cellphones.
Although the cause of the fire remains unclear, some believe it may have been sparked by a carelessly discarded cigarette. Others suspect a faulty electrical cable may have ignited the inferno.
“I suspect someone left a cigarette burning,” said Precious Mugwidi, who runs a shop on the ground floor. “But others say it could have been an electric fault. Either way, we have lost so much.”
Firefighters rushed to the scene, battling flames as thick smoke billowed into the evening sky. No injuries were reported at the time of going to print, but traders are counting heavy losses as investigations continue.
This is a developing story…
