Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cairo road Shoprite store gutted by fire

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Shoprite store on Lusaka’s Cairo Road has been gutted by fire.

The fire, which started around 17:50 hours from the back-store, swept through some parts of the first floor of the building.

By 20:30 hours, the Zambia National Service, National Airports Corporation and Fire Brigade were still struggling to find the means of gaining entry into the affected upper part of the building.

The fire fighting officers could not gain entry into the gutted part of the bulding
because they did not have enough oxygen reserves to avoid suffocation in putting off
the fire.

Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso confirmed to ZANIS that the fire
fighters were still outside the building as they had not secured enough oxygen
reserves by 21:00 hours.

Mr Kapeso, however, indicated that the ground floor, which accommodates the
merchandise section, seemed not to have been affected by the fire.

Senior management officials from Shoprite Checkers, found at the scene, declined to
comment on the incident.

This is the second time Shoprite store on Lusaka’s Cairo road ahs been gutted by
fire in less than a year.

48 COMMENTS

  1. Let shoprite put its house in order. They need to re-invest in that old building and repair all the old electrical wiring.

  2. It all boils down to social responsibilty.
    I know others argued before that the purpose of investors was to make profits, but had they thought to hepl out the local fire brigade the fire could have been contained.
    the bottom line is they are insured and this should not be a problem to them.
    It is the small scale Zambian businesses that cant afford insurance that suffer in times like this.

  3. #2,Shoprite is a business entity and must add value to their premises.when the first fire struck they should have done an exemplary refurbishing of the place, even the insurers now will question the legitimate of the claim.As for social responsibility its only that Zambia has misplaced priorities.Instead of spending and equiping fire services they decide to go and buy a Merc for the mayor, we are not serious in the way we do things?ZNBS got gutted many years back to ashes because the Fire horses could not reach 18th floor and this must have been a lesson to the Local Authority,the current fleet of vehicles they have it was a donation by UK govt and they can not add other assessories sure? We need a miracle to help us plan and think issues strategically.This is worrying, the only consolation is all small business men are like me briefcase or Kantemba style,if fire broke out you just use a bucket and deal done tefyo Rudy

  4. While we regret the needless destruction of property,such incidents will continue to be the trend until fire precautions and preventive measures are taken seriously.Relevant authorities should institute regular mandatory fire inspections and erring parties must be fined.It is only by drastic measures such as this that similar incidents can be avoided.We could have all the oxygen reserves in the world at our disposal but we will not need any of it if we learn to be cautious.And you would expect a company like shoprite to know that.But alas!Two devastating fires in less than a year is a little way over the top.

  5. when will the govt for chuchu will wake up and equipt ba fire brigade? chuchu has spent so much kuli bamambala ba “tasky force” who are doing nothing. chuchu we are tired of the chorus “fight corruption” ala development mucalo teyalubali lumo, it caters all sections. kashi iwe chuchu walaba shani? manje unemployent yacita rise te?

    ati this is the second time? manje mucisungu mutila ati “once beaten twice shy” nomba iyi ba Chuchu its “once beaten nekokanyapo, nakabili, next, nafuti, nomuyayaya. wake up MMD.

  6. #5Ba Joze namubwela ama deals yalishani? Queque yalishani, Zambia with 11m people there are so many problems than USA with 11 m illegal immigrants?This is a scandal on the part of government.#4 fire inspections are done twice a year so you wonder whether the fire inspectors are competent to certify these places or they are just a frustrated lot who cant be bothered.Its a scandal, BaJoze insure your shoes

  7. Why is it that every time there is a fire,the Fire Brigade is always lacking somthing to contain the fire quickly?Why are they not always prepared and fully equiped?This has been the same case since I was born,26 yrs ago…..Pathetic.

  8. Kuku, i think its an organised fire pantu ba shoprite likes managent dont like ukutwala indukis(money) ku-bank so some workers got the cash and set up fire pakutila ati tapali proof te?

    kuku, tuyeye fyani and very cheap. so manje next week nishi this friday nishi nashifta ku stones ekuli business. naligeta accom kumalota. kuku, intundu napushishe ipatila(police) bapasenkobo bali confiscata but kayabasova pa friday.
    Queque yamu jazz, and there is too much propangada kuli bama foreign press about zimzim. i think zimzim is better than TZ by far.so zedian mu zimzim ni millionair i had respect mu zimzim. that s the respect i want from chi citizen, gk, and HK.

  9. #8 BaJoze take measures pa ma trip, tatulefwaya after 3 years ati na mukwata heart problem kanshi tuyeye.Ba Joze mulelipila tax pantu imiti ku Ndola central bashita na tax not filya kashiwa bulaya(abroad) aletele. Ine akantemba kaleyenda fye bwino but Iam just looking at what benefits have we gotten from G8 eversince its inception in 1975? 30 years on BaJoze we are still second class continent.30 years on China is the 4th largest economy with 10% growth.I get worried when I look at these things 43 years on Fire bridgate has no long horses and no oxygen ?where are we heading to?

  10. shoprite must have something with, i was watching the dark smoke filling the clouds last year at shoprite when it was gutted. Watching from my office window around 16;30 hours on the second floor of our head offic, i felt sorry then. But this time, this fire must be questioned!!!!! I went home and by news time on tv in the evening, the fire was still ablaze. Its a shame on the part of grz to fell to have competence even in as far as putting off a fire on a one 1..2 floor building. And to shoprite, we are tired of gutting your premises as tho u are full of careless smokers working in an oil field. Not sorry this time.

  11. you know kuku, fire bridget dept is in the hands of the govt and they have little allocation of the nation budget, so pipo dont blame them blame chuchu’s govt for negliegence and diverting national money kufyabuwele fi so called “tasky force” atase mukwai.

    Kuku, G8 is for rich countries to destroy poor countries and they will blind them ati financial aid but what they will get its more than the donations.kuku i washed the documentary ya kwa Al Gore pali climate change, ala iyibyabi but ba al gore balitwata inganda iyikulu sana and he burns more CO2 nokuchila any african presidents. so icho ci-meeting wayileko ca fake.

  12. mwanamusalu waile mukulomba AGAIN???????? You are proud that UK has signed a pact with you of 40 million pounds per year for the next 10 years!!! You like to use poverty to ask for money te? Are you going to develop anything with this kongole? Atleast kaunda build university of zambia and many more failities the country is still using like UTH. But you, you said na ba Namibia ati u have identified land on north western province for a joint venture farm. So u are back to state owned farms te, good. Now, take all those street kids in town and at manda hill and take them for national service. Atleast they can call u dad for a while. Dnt use hunger to lobby for funds like that. You make us sick to go all the way to the uk only to talk about corruption. Mind you it will not stop, because its like prostitution. You just have to be sharp to deal with it, like i ent to alpha in zambia and only drunk my mosi amidst twags…n…Do something for Zambia that you will remember with pride that u did

  13. #12 titus mwaice wandi ala twalibelela, alubila mubowa naka beseni.Mwaice in ten years this will be £400m equivalent to $800m which China will have brought at an enormous cost in chambishi.Your dad LPM exempted them from paying VAT and import duty for how long heavens knows and the deal is very transparent.by the time those chinese guys leave chambishi those holes they will create will be an environmental disaster with no back filling arrangement in place.They are good when they come into infra structure like Tazara,Tazama not as economic partners they are a menace.Wait and see.

  14. kuku, do you think the MDGs will be reached by 2015?what has zed done to the 15 goals? nothing, absolutely nothing and no signs of starting and nomba chuchu lavoka ati “he is in the line of MDGs” you know kuku, ubwafya nibu:
    1. the goals where drafted by foreigners
    2. the time frame ya fake
    3. donor countries tayifikilisha ubulayo bwa finance
    4. corruption in third world
    5. diverting money like what chuchu is doing,
    diverting money kuli chi tasky force cabupuba.
    6. African presidents mafuti abengi like Museveni,
    chuchu,paul kagami, namibian presdo, kabila
    7. there is no free participation from pipo
    8. natural distaters like tsunamis, makumba
    (earthquakes) ma draw backs yabuyatashi
    9.ect
    10. nobe bakapo nanaka.

  15. IMF Executive Board Completes Fifth and Sixth Reviews Under Zambia’s PRGF Arrangement and Approves US$33.4 Million Disbursement
    Press Release No. 07/124
    June 8, 2007
    The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the fifth as well as the sixth and final review of Zambia’s economic performance under a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement. The completion of the reviews enables the release of a further amount equivalent to SDR 22 million (about US$33.4 million).

    The Executive Board also approved the request for waivers for the nonobservance of performance criteria in view of the corrective actions taken. These include the end-June 2006 and end-December 2006 quantitative performance criteria on net domestic financing of the central government; the end-June 2006 quantitative performance criterion on gross international reserves of the Bank of Zambia; and the end-September 2006 and end-March 2007 structural performance criteria on the initiation of the piloting of the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS).

    The PRGF arrangement was approved on June 16, 2004 (see Press Release No. 04/117) in the amount equivalent to SDR 220.1 million (about US$333.6 million). On May 25, 2007 a request to extend the original three-year arrangement to September 30, 2007 was approved by the Board on a lapse-of-time basis.

    Following the Executive Board discussion, Mr. Takatoshi Kato, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said:

    “The Zambian authorities are to be commended for pursuing sound macroeconomic policies that have sustained robust economic growth and achieved a marked reduction in inflation. High copper prices and extensive debt relief have helped to strengthen Zambia’s external position and allow a build up of international reserves.

    “Going forward, the challenge for the authorities is to consolidate macroeconomic stability and implement structural reforms to raise productivity and diversify the economy. Continued prudent fiscal policy is needed to restrain the growth of government domestic debt, while monetary policy will need to remain firm in the months ahead to keep inflation on a downward path. Better coordination between fiscal and monetary policy will help improve liquidity management.

    “It will be important to press ahead with tax reform to broaden the tax base while making the tax system simpler, more efficient, and equitable. Higher levels of tax revenue will be required over the medium term to accommodate spending on infrastructure, agriculture and the social sectors as envisaged in the Fifth National Development Plan.

    “The public expenditure management and accountability reforms being implemented are essential for the successful implementation of the government’s poverty-reducing programs and the effective use of public resources more generally. Budget execution and reporting, which are key elements of the reform, will be greatly enhanced by the planned establishment of a treasury single account and implementation of the integrated financial management and information system. Strengthened debt management will help ensure that new borrowing does not undermine debt sustainability.

    “To foster diversification of the economy and boost economic growth and employment, it will be important to implement vigorously the economic reform agenda set out in the Fifth National Development Plan, particularly the measures to stimulate the private sector development,” Mr. Kato said.

    The PRGF is the IMF’s concessional facility for low-income countries. PRGF-supported programs are based on country-owned poverty reduction strategies adopted in a participatory process involving civil society and development partners and articulated in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). This is intended to ensure that PRGF-supported programs are consistent with a comprehensive framework for macroeconomic, structural, and social policies to foster growth and reduce poverty. PRGF loans carry an annual interest rate of 0.5 percent and are repayable over 10 years with a 5½-year grace period on principal payments.

    IMF EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
    Public Affairs Media Relations
    Phone: 202-623-7300 Phone: 202-623-7100
    Fax: 202-623-6278 Fax: 202-623-6772

  16. #12 mwaice wandi titus, ama chang cheng chong ba-fake te? so they are just getting our raw material and using cheap labour te? so manje chuchu must take them to teka farm te?

  17. Like every other person has said,it boils down to social responsibility.In other countries public buildings are not allowed to operate if they do not have smoke/fire sensing systems and fire fighting systems.Alas here we allow anything for as long as there is a roof and pipo can buy things.What do institutions of inspectorate do in this country?.My suggestion to whoever is responsible is to look into internal fire fighting systems especially for public places like Manda hill or arcades.

  18. #15 Chilumba,on paper the country seems to be doing well and the conveyor belt seems to have holes that makes a coomon man not benefit from the nation cake. In addition the Zambian govt is now relying on foreign investors to provide employment to its people and its has disregard all the NEPAD’s four primary objectives which are to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa in the world economy, and accelerate the empowerment of women. It is based on underlying principles of a commitment to good governance, democracy, human rights and conflict resolution; and the recognition that maintenance of these standards is fundamental to the creation of an environment conducive to investment and long-term economic growth. NEPAD seeks to attract increased investment, capital flows and funding, providing an African-owned framework for development as the foundation for partnership at regional and international levels.

  19. And to our indian friends operating bakeries, take note at what happened at shoprite and stop locking your workers at night. If fire will break, how will they escape& and chung che ama joze must be dealt with ukumubelenga bwino sana. Twaila dull sometimes natwena, I will be pa kitwe soon if they mistreat their workers… before oshira mawashi tailaima bakamba ninshi ka tear gas naka mwingila chung che.

  20. #19 when u look at empowerment of women, do support appointing women without sound credentials in high public office@@@$$$

  21. #20 titus mwaice wandi some african presidents mafutu sana sana makamaka museveni, chuchu, presdo wa namibia, kabila, kenyan, malawian. anyway maice titus goodnite, nomba ine bwacha naya mukupanga tea pa inters.

    #15 mukamba that’s good data.naya mukusoma

  22. #19 SamK ,What do you expect from a place where BOZ, MOFDP, and central statitics have different sets of data, at no point will these figures corellate.I was equally amazed when I read this and then felt we should share since BaJoze was asking Kuku in Germany if atll MDG are attainable.Our friends in the developed world have tangible results to show for devevelopment and growth, i.e stable interest rates, low cost of living, high employment growth,high GDP,high life expectancy etc but in our case it is all figurative contrasting sharply with the happenings.NEPAD is another academic excercise, it cant even solve DarFur crisis then what more with complex economic integration issues.Something is seriously wrong on our continent.OAU into NEPAD =0
    This cloud will never leave us for one reason or another may be we should outsource management hire OECD executive for a while since its 40 years old and has alot of experience in economic management and they have been mandated to manage africa

  23. #14 BaJoze does comment 15 answer your question.Nomba BaJoze ama contrast you are telling Titus ati mwayamukapanga TEA again ati mwayamukusoma.are you at NEPAD with Kufor which is which BaJOze muli confused na scandal yapa Shoprite baletina fye VAT its a deliberate fire

  24. #19 empowerment of women is one of the fundamental objectives NEPAD in confirmitive with the MDGs but when its comes to appointment it has to be based on merits. This is where the problem is by just appointing women in sensitive govt position just reached the proposed figures.

  25. #24 Zebige, i was cleaning my hard drive, ka explorer nkwete ka chi dilinga, it stopped running. Bati zebige Joze ya shani ama double story, is he abroad like me nangu alli pa zed??

  26. #26, I guess u ment me #21 titus titilanimus. Of course this issue of empowerment of women must be handled courtiously. By the way, Zebige kuku i missed you a few days what happened? I hope u were not out of sight coz of the court proceedings. Whats your say now that property ili frozen iya kwa kateka #2. And then Dr K naena yakosa game?

  27. #23 Chulumba, NEPAD objected were totally neglected by all African states despite spending so much time and money on drafting the objectives that are just there on paper.Zambians are still subjected to bad sanitation, unsafe clean water, unupgraded slums and yet the govt is claiming to be doing fine when the conveyor belt is stuck somewhere. People are still breaking stones along Kafue road. Where is the change in the economy? For how long shall wait to seen the change? KK used to tell us to fasten our belts of which we did and FTJ told us to sacrifice, of course we did. Now where is the national cake to share?

    UN is still squirming on the measure of national poverty by resorting to all dynamic measures like life expectancy, GNI, GDP etc which just give contracts within the regional population. Foristance, if you compare Ethopia and Kenya in terms of life expectancy, Ethopia is above 40 yrs while Kenya is below 40 yrs but kenya is more economically sound than Ethopia. No matching.

  28. ndepanga tea pa inter plus nokusoma MDGs. kutiwashala weka mufifi. am having break fast ya kandolo nomba

  29. Sam K- Hey, why did mag G go to america to tell “Despite zimi crisis, zed is doping fine!!” s our economy to be compared to zim? Lets leave zim pipo alone and reflect on our deeds. Im glad that someone by the way said we r dones on the other hand when we pop in zim. But i console with their suffering. It has been pepetrated by white man-brit.

  30. #34 Titus mwaice wacilacita inshi mpaka 04,Am sure naulala tusha mwaice, I guess you are in America looking at the time difference.Keep well youngman and let us hear more from you.mwaice pa blog insele shaleyendela so I took commercial break, you know us people who fear the lord so much we belive in mutual respect.The fact that we are Kaponyas doesnot mean we have different blood, we are all the same in the image of GOD.ulemudilinga na George bush mwaice is just the same like you.Only fear the lord your God , fear no man

  31. In Europe they will in September hold a review of the MDGs to see what has been achieved and what can still be down to attain these objectives. What is Zambia doing? Street Kids are everywhere. Hunger is looming once it doesnt rainy again. Where is the Winter Maize Project?

  32. #35 Zebige kuku,I like to see thegame of hide and seek between bush and putin. I urge u to follow international news closely as this conequently affects the third world. Zambian pipo should open their eyes and learn to analyse issues from a broad band perspective. Welcome back to the blog and as u can now see-no more amalumbo. Im an ACADEMICIAN who is a professional and carrying out nanotechnology research. So if you can be interested in knowing what happens to future advancement in material science and technology then you can always get in touch with me. But you should know meanwhile that on a very serious note, my generation will sweep up zed and forge ahead. I will not ask for a place, but it be offered to me. Zambia you need to work with young pipo who understand deep phylosophical issues.

  33. It is sad that firemen form LCC could not put off the fire at shoprite in god time. By saturday 14:00hrs the fire was still balzing as firement watched helplessly. The lusaka fire station needs to be equiped with all morden fire fighting equipment. Is ia sad to learn that the firemen had no enough oxgen equipment to eanable them reach the inside top floor where thr fire was blazing. Worse still water pressure from the the Lusaka water and sewerage pipes was not enough. Somthing has to be done on this.
    Shoprite maangement is also to blame because they could have taken precaution since this is not the first fire they have experienced in this this shop and many other shops in the counrty. The buliding should be fitted with smoke detectors so that fire is detected before much damage is caused to property. Remember that the property being gartted is zambiam propoerty that adds beaty to our city. It is very painfull for me to see our property being garted by fire. Sorry no space, …!!?

  34. #40
    your third line chinyamata. its not oxygen but carbon dioxide equipment. oxygen suppots combustion te?

  35. #39 Titus mwaice wandi, I will always support progressive minds, mwaice the fact that you are an Academician come back and sort out UNZA/CBU paralysis.These universities are not among the best 100 in Africa.what is your position on this situation? Its worrying because the graduates like you and LPM mulifipokapoka and doing wonders everywhere in the world, I guess you are a mechanical engineer from (material science).Ifwe mwaice tuntemba ifi ifyama engineering no much brains but can understand the literal meanings.

  36. Yaba, so twakwata naimbi eyesore mutown! What insurance, just look at the building opposite the one burning! Building society! How many years now? BaJose firemen will need oxygen for breathing as they try to put off fire with carbon dioxide (or in this case since tis in chuchuland, water!.Nakalimo $58m tu ka give ba Fire brigade

  37. #43 Chiwala boy my schoolmate mwaice wandi. alishani that kakuni teacher nyerenda? chiwala boy that fire pa shoprite does not ifima-oxygen but choppers (helicoputer)with calcium carbonate powder. ala ba Fire brigade belefwaya 3 choppers, 6 Fire brigade vehicle, 20 adjusting ladars that can reach 60 m te?

    titus, ngawamula zed come straight pa inters, inkakupangilapo tea yamukaka or green tea yaba chang cheng chung.

  38. #43 Chiwala boy my schoolmate mwaice wandi. alishani that kakuni teacher nyerenda? chiwala boy that fire pa shoprite does not need ifima-oxygen but choppers (helicoputer)with calcium carbonate powder. ala ba Fire brigade belefwaya 3 choppers, 6 Fire brigade vehicle, 20 adjusting ladars that can reach 60 m te?

    titus, ngawamula zed come straight pa inters, inkakupangilapo tea yamukaka or green tea yaba chang cheng chung.

  39. Ni order iyo manje, ifwe ba tamanga kuti twa chita supply. Katwishi ba Chuchu boys ngakubalishamo shinga. It is a pity really that we cannot fight such a small fire. Maybe we can outsource fire fighting, Smith?

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