Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo and Bokang Tlou, Chronicle Writers
THE Bulawayo City Council’s Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating use of illegal gas cylinders throughout the city. The department stated that these unregulated energy sources pose a significant fire hazard, particularly in densely populated urban and peri-urban areas.
Several recent fires in the city have been attributed to gas leaks and explosions. In one incident, a gas leak caused a fire at a house in Pelandaba West, ripping off the roof and damaging property. Just last week, a Honda Fit parked at Manyenziwe Shopping Centre in Nkulumane 12 was completely burnt after a gas cylinder inside the vehicle exploded.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the Bulawayo Provincial National Fire Week — held under the theme “Prevent Veld Fires — Protect Our Environment” — Bulawayo’s Chief Fire Officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said the Fire Brigade is confiscating dozens of unsafe gas cylinders from vendors operating without licences.
He warned that many of these cylinders are being sold without essential safety features such as gas leak detectors and automatic shut-off valves.
“We need to ensure that people buy from reputable companies and certified installers, who follow safety standards.
Unfortunately, many residents are purchasing gas from street vendors and unregulated suppliers, which can lead to deadly fires and explosions,” said Mr Moyo.
The warning comes amid growing concern that, while veld fire cases have significantly declined in Bulawayo this year, new urban fire threats — especially from illegal gas installations and poorly executed solar setups — are on the rise.
“In 2024, we saw a reduction in veld fires thanks to increased community co-operation and awareness, but we are still battling avoidable incidents caused by illegal gas and solar setups. These can destroy entire homes in minutes,” Mr Moyo said.
He noted that fire incidents linked to gas explosions are becoming more frequent, particularly in high-density suburbs where alternative energy sources are increasingly being adopted due to rising electricity costs and intermittent power supply.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) revealed during the launch that Bulawayo Province recorded an 89 percent decrease in veld fire-damaged land this year — from 1 451,13 hectares in 2023 to just 156,59 hectares in 2024.
EMA’s Provincial Environmental Education and Publicity Officer, Miss Kayleen Dube, attributed this success to pre-fire suppression measures such as fireguard construction and early controlled burning.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Judith Ncube, noted that fire threats remain a major governance and development issue. Echoing Mr Moyo’s sentiments, she urged stakeholders to shift focus to urban fire risks, including those caused by illegal energy sources.
Minister Ncube called for co-ordinated awareness campaigns targeting both urban and rural communities, emphasising the dangers of using unlicensed energy products and the need for strengthened fire prevention measures.
“The strategy is built on community involvement, public awareness campaigns, the training and equipping of fire-fighting teams, the mobilisation of resources, the construction of fireguards and the establishment of effective fire reporting and communication systems.
“We cannot talk about a sustainable and resilient Zimbabwe, as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), while our homes and infrastructure are under constant threat from preventable fires,” she said.
In 2023, fire incidents across the country destroyed infrastructure in the agriculture, tourism, and hospitality sectors worth over US$320 000. In 2024, property losses have already exceeded US$317 000, with more than 4 000 fire incidents reported and nearly 900 000 hectares of land destroyed.
Bongani Ndlovu