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Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Owners of buildings should conduct regular safety checks on their properties as a precaution against fire outbreaks, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland West Mary Mliswa-Chikoka has said.
Speaking after visiting three shops that were gutted last week by a fire in Kadoma, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka called for forensic investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.
The fire affected Edgars, Jet and Coloursel stores, destroying clothes and furniture worth thousands of dollars.
“I am grateful that the Fire Brigade got here on time and tried to save whatever they could but, unfortunately, the impact and intensity of the fire was just too much,” said Minister Mliswa-Chikoka.
“Now we are waiting for the forensic investigations to be completed to see what really caused the fire.”
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka urged people to practise safety at work.
“Let us make sure that electrical appliances at every station are safe while doing regular checks to make sure the buildings where we work are secure,” she said.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said the fire on Monday last week was a wake-up call for local authorities to consider fully equipping their fire stations.
“We need to make sure that our fire brigades are well equipped and we also need a lot of fire trucks so that if something like this should happen there will all come at the same time,” she said.
“This is something we need to look at as a province and make sure . . . our fire brigades are equipped.”
The fire incident in Kadoma was one of the several outbreaks recorded recently across Zimbabwe, with almost two thirds of the Glen View Area 8 Home Industries complex along Willowvale Road in Harare being razed when a fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire destroyed property worth millions of dollars belonging to informal traders while six vehicles were reduced to shells the following day at Magaba in Harare.
Online Reporter