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Arron Nyamayaro
HARARE residents have appealed for the inspection and renovation of old buildings in the city to safeguard lives.
The calls follow the collapse of a building in the Harare Central Business District which claimed a life and left five people nursing injuries on Saturday.
“What is the City of Harare Inspection Department doing when buildings are falling and killing lives?
“Everyone is allowed to erect a shelter as long as he or she is prepared to pay rentals to the city fathers at the expense of people’s lives.
“We are calling on the local authorities to consider people’s lives ahead of money, consider inspecting all old buildings as well as consider renovating them,” said one resident.
Another resident said:
“I think the main challenge is that we have more people in these buildings than the number of people these buildings should accommodate.
“The owners of the buildings want to take advantage of every space to make money and most of our CBD buildings are now over populated.
“The authorities should do regular inspection otherwise we will have more of these tragedies.”
Yolanda Hodzi of Maridale, Norton, was walking along the pavement when the building collapsed and died on the spot.
Kudzaishe Mafauna of Ushewekunze, Trywell Leadmore of Adlean in Westgate, Wadzanai Baureni of Waterfalls, Brendon Madondo of Unit K in Chitungwiza and Conilias Chiwaka of Ruwa were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment.
Three vehicles parked close to the building along Chinhoyi Street were damaged.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“A building along Chinhoyi Street in Harare Central Business District, near Gulf Complex, collapsed while the victims were on the pavement of the building hiding from a hailstorm on Saturday at about 1530 hours.
“One person died and five were injured.
“Three vehicles parked in front of the building were also damaged.
“The value of damaged property is yet to be established.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is conducting investigations in conjunction with relevant authorities, including National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to ascertain the cause of the tragedy,” said Ass-Comm Nyathi.
Online Reporter