Solwezi Shoprite has been gutted after fire swept through the shop due to a suspected electrical fault during the early hours of today.
A ZANIS reporter who rushed to the scene around 04:00 hours found property worth millions of kwacha burning to ashes by the fire which begun around 01:00 hours.
Scores of Solwezi residents also rushed to the scene to witness the fire which also caused traffic jam among Independence Avenue and traffic police had to come in to help the situation.
Four fire tenders from Kansanshi mine who arrived at the scene at 05:45 hours failed to put out the fire which up to 08:00 hours was still burning.
The fire fighters and security officers attempted to access entry into the shop but failed although they managed to break the main door with an axe.
Northwestern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nichola Hazemba, Solwezi District Commissioner, Albert Chifita, Solwezi Mayor Emmanuel Chihili, Town Clerck Jim Zya and Police Commanding Officer, Fabian Katiba and others were on the scene watching hopelessly as the fire continued to destroy goods in Shoprite.
Northwestern Province Police Commanding Officer Fabian Katiba and Solwezi Mayor, Emmanuel Chihili described the situation as unfortunate and a blow to the province as Shoprite was the largest retail shop in the area.
Mayor Chihili said the gutting of Shoprite was a wake up call for the district to acquire fire hydrants since the district has none.
Yesterday, there was no power at Solwezi Shoprite as electricity had been cut off by lightning which struck the line supplying power to the shop. Zesco only managed to restore power around 17:00 hours.
When contacted for a comment Zesco authorities said the fire could have been ignited by some electrical appliances at the bakery where the fire started and not by the Zesco power supply line.
The authorities in the district are investigating the cause of the infernol.
Meanwhile police have arrested two security guards at the scene from a local security firm for allegedly looting cell phones, air time and an undisclosed amount of money which were retrieved from Catalyst Commercial, a private shop next to Shoprite.
The two were quickly rushed to the police station where they are currently detained awaiting court appearance.
We conclude that Shoprite has got a ci spirit burning fire! Never work for this company.
“Burning one shoprite outlet” every year shortly before declaration of tax returns has become a tradition for shoprite management. I refuse to believe that this is not internal arson for the purpose of some type of relief from ZRA responsibility.
yah, aba bantu ni ba shichupiti sana. why did kafupi bring them. ku south they are not even known
IT’S SHOPRITE AGAIN. Its Shoprite after shoprite not PEP not any other shop. Is this the systeem of shoprite stealling from insuarance campanies. Shoprite management must be taken to task to answer the causes of fire before we term it negrigence of the highest degree.
Imagine!!!Why does it have to be shoprite always.This is definetly an internal affair.
This could also be a local person who does not like Shoprite operating in Zambia.
Zambians do not like straightforward businesses, if a company is not corrupt then their face will not fit in!
We need development in Zambia, stop burning shops, embrass our visitors for the sake of humanity.
Police should investigate this and they should bring the culprits to book.
#6 Come on, dont be dull is that local found in all Shoprite shops countrywide?
It is quite illustrative of the Zambian mindset that people think Shoprite would torch their own stores to get insurance/tax incentives …
Frankly, i’m quite happy that shoprite branches keep being gutted by fire.
And if i was a shoprite employe, i wouldnt even waste time burning these branches. I would straight burn Claudio Bombardieri (MD-Shoprite Zambia)
Keyser Soze are you scared to confront me with your harrasment?
Here comes circus………..hahahahahahahahaha
These stupid south Africans are taking us zambians for granted. if you remember after these burgers (bagaz)wanted to run away, we put in an injuction. what followed was that s/rite cairo rd burnt. Omnia fertilizer is the same. They filter our resouces just like s/rite thru stanbic bank to SA. Zambians mwalishishita.Probe these just like Tomorrow investments. SA’s are racists. If u wnt more info email me on [email protected].
It’s amazing that some people think that a company like SR or any company for that matter will burn down a store and let insurance pay for it. Yes insurance will pay to re-built the building and replace some of the stocks, but what about the lost of income, the monthly expenses you still need to pay, employee costs, etc. It doesn’t matter what I do on my calculator but it’s doesn’t add up at all… if it was the lightning that set the building on fire, is that the management’s fault as well??
carelessness,why should it be shoprite always and not pep? am so suspicious.
How you Zambians can put up with such greedy people as those who own shoprite. Your government and the Catholic Church just kowtow to these ingrates.