Story by Tamuka Charakupa
A grocery shop at Murereka Shopping Centre in Lion’s Den was completely destroyed by fire on Sunday evening, leaving shelves of goods reduced to ashes.
The blaze, which erupted shortly after 6 pm, is suspected to have started from a battery-related electrical fault before rapidly engulfing the store. Firefighters were called to the scene, but by their arrival, the complex had already sustained extensive damage.
“We did everything possible to put out the fire, but it kept reigniting because the shop was fully stocked. Most of the items inside, like cooking oil, flour, and plastics, were highly flammable, which made the job more difficult,” fireire attendant, Mr Edward Sadzinye said.
“This was our go-to shop for cheap groceries, now it’s gone. We don’t know where we will turn to next,” a resident said.
“There was nothing we could do to stop the fire. At this point we do not know the exact cause of the fire, but indeed damage was done,” a community member said.
The local leadership concur that while the swift response by the firefighters helped contain the inferno from spreading to nearby structures, there is still a need for continuous training on handling emergencies.
“We commend the firefighters, but as leadership, we call for more refresher trainings to sharpen their skills,” Makonde Rural District Council, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paradzai Munyede said.
“Our people should try by all means to avoid loose connections, which at most times ignite these fires. We are, however, grateful for the immediate response by from fire authorities,” Makonde Rural District Council Chairperson, Mr Misheck Nyarubero said.
Meanwhile, the government has since equipped local authorities with modern, high-tech fire tenders to ensure swift response in emergencies.
