Friday, March 29, 2024

Fire in Lusaka leads to punch up between Police and Firefighters

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A fire has burnt some vehicles parked at the Central Police Station in Lusaka.

The fire started at about 09.00 hours and caused damage to seven vehicles, which had earlier been impounded by the police for undisclosed offenses.

The fire also gutted some apartments housing a number of police officers and ammunition within the central police premises.

However, the cause of the fire and extent of the damage has not yet been established.

And Lusaka Police Division Commanding Officer, Mathews Nguni said the fire could have been caused by an electrical fault.

Meanwhile, there was a near punch up between police officers and fire brigade officers as police accused the fire fighters of arriving too late to quench the inferno.

ZNBC

101 COMMENTS

  1. Mulilo wagwila “BOMA” manje….probably this would send a serious signal this time around to the effect that the Firefighters are in-efficient. But we must see beyond that….are they adequately equiped?

  2. Upto now they have not esteblished the cause? mwilatwangasha you know what happened??? Vote for PF and all this complacency will be the talk of the past…

    PABWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATOOOOOOOOO>>>>>

  3. These guys are nxt door neighbours, how woiuld one explain the delay. Guys let’s be serious with tax payers money, this is circus. Zambia, Zambia……

  4. Guys bacilalwila ama sweet nkwete. Nacisa pela ko bakapokola bag imo, ba Fire ati eyashani mudala Father Christmas. Ine mpilibuke awe kusanga fye impondo shileyuma imbezi.

    I just had to run away nati kuti bakutobela ubwatooooooo.

  5. Its as good as saying we dont have a fire bridget in the country. Let me just buy that place i build some nice hostels to rent to hone and nipa students.

  6. I just want the Zambia Police to pay in damages for all of those cars that were in pounded. This should serve as a warning. Please government fund the fire brigade. Build more fire infrastructure like fire hydrants, buy more fire trucks/at least one fire plane, employ more fire well-trained/paid and equipped fighters, and finally improve communication.

  7. This is just too much innefficiency
    The fire fighters are located just opposite and still couldnt do anyrhing
    We need change!!

  8. I think Zambians will only learn how important fire services are when state house or parliament building gets gutted. We don’t seem to have learnt anything from the fires that gutted Findeco building years a decade ago.

  9. #8 Unless you come from a different Zambia not the one I know. Which Police is going to pa for the gutted cars. Baba tuleikalafye. If Sugar can buy one a vote then it speaks volumes of what is going on in my country.

    This is why I am on the boat giving out sweets. A sweet buys you a vote in Zambia. Seriously, it works.

  10. Its really a shame, indeed the fire brigade is literally in front of Central Police station. What happened to the fire trucks which were donated a year or two ago? If they are damaged, what were they doing when they were damaged? Maybe the Fire fighting services should be priavitised, just a thought.

  11. Its really a shame, indeed the fire brigade is literally in front of Central Police station. What happened to the fire trucks which were donated a year or two ago? If they are damaged, what were they doing when they were damaged? Maybe the Fire fighting services should be privatized, just a thought.

  12. CENTRAL POLICE AND THE FIRE BRIGADE ARE JUST OPPOSITE EACH OTHER!!! THEY WOULD EVEN HAVE QUENCHED THE FIRE HAD THEY HAVE LONG PIPES,FROM THEIR PREMISES, WITH FULLY PRESSURIZED WATER!

    THIS MEANS THEY GUYS DONT HAVE EQUIPMENTS AND WATER!

  13. Since when did the police in Zambia become efficient to start accusing others of inefficiency. I may not know how long fire brigade took to attend to the emergency but i think the police service is not any better. If Zambians decide to resort to beating the police every time they turn up late to address a reported crime, they would be beaten every day. Any way changa baseka uwachelwa.

  14. The cops had to destroy evidence upon noticing they were losing a court case against the ouner of vehicle reg no. ABK ****. I believe they gutted the place themselves.

  15. #7 wat is a fire ‘bridget’haha..ok mwandi,bt th firemen ar js careles,thy cud evn c th fire bt came afta 45 minutes..awe mukwai kutumpafye uku..its nt evn political.

  16. our fire brigades country wide are just suffering from the chronic country wide disease of insider theft and vandalism.
    Those pipes which should be there are on someones farm.
    lets face the facts. we have so much theft in our so called christian country it is sad!
    nothing is spared not even road signs. our children grow up not knowing the streets they live in. giving directions to outsiders is by landmarks.Maybe thats why the firebrigade took so long to come … they couldnt find the place!!

  17. Sad reading from home. What is happening ku-Zed kansi? Zambia Police yashani?
    Is it ubwako thugs who are protesting event before the election results are out or what?
    Pabwato.
    Vote Sata and PF as Politics-Exclude in Zambian Politics come October 30, 2008, since Sata is already a Presidential-Material-Exclude having already failed to make it to Plot 1 for the second time.

  18. Q.What is experience?
    A. Experience is nothing but lessons learnt from a collection of mistakes.

    Q. Why then are we having fire after fire?
    A. It appears the MMD-GRZ has failed to use the experince they have had for 17 years to take Zambia to another level.

    Q. What shall we do then?
    A. Vote for wanzelu on October 30, 2008.

  19. #26, Pumpy, I am Maestro Hhehhehhehhe. I have change names to this Tonga one so that people can see me as one supproting a Bemba person in the name of Sata.

  20. 29 what changed your mind? If i remember correctly you were so much into Hh that i even accused you of being Hh himself.

  21. WHAT I DON´T UNDERSTAND IS WHY DOES THE POLICE IN ZAMBIA KEEP ALL THOSE JUNKS OF CARS AT THE CENTER OF THE TOWN? ALL POLICE STATIONS IN ZAMBIA ARE THE MOST DIRTIEST PLACES IN ZAMBIA, WE HAVE VERY VAST LAND IN THE COUNTRY BUT YOU WILL FIND THAT EVEN CARS IMPOUNDED DURING KAUNDA´S TIME ARE STILL THERE WHY.SOMETIME I DON´T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS THE POLICE STATION. IT IS SO DIRTY HOW CAN WE DOUBT ITS BURNING.EVEN IF FIRE BRIGADE WAS CLOSE I AM VERY SURE THEY DIDN´T EVEN HAVE WATER IN THE TRUKS. MWAIBALA BWANJI

  22. #30 and 31, Pumpy I have decide to get a Bemba lady for a wife since us Tonga People are accused of hating Bemba people and that we are Tribalists. So, I want to put it into practice that I am non-Tribal now. As a matter of fact, bashikulu ba-Sata bafwile utusha bwino after a long political carrer. What do you think about my plans, Pumpy?
    As for HH, he will rule when his time comes. I am sure the good Lord God is with him in his (HH) efforts and campaigns.

  23. #30 and 31, Pumpy I have decide to get a Bemba lady for a wife since us Tonga People are accused of hating Bemba people and that we are Tribalists. So, I want to put it into practice that I am non-Tribal now. As a matter of fact, bashikulu ba-Sata bafwile utusha bwino after a long political carrer. What do you think about my plans, Pumpy?
    As for HH, he will rule when his time comes. I am sure the good Lord God is with him in his (HH) efforts and campaigns.

  24. #32, according to some country profile of Zambia I read sometime back, Zambia only uses 7% of its total land which is about 750000 square kilometres. So there is a lot of room for improvement by taking infrastructure to underdeveloped Zambian areas.

  25. #36, don’t worry about Sata, the good Lord God’s Will wiil be done. As for HH, I know his purpose in this life will be done.
    About the usernames I choose, I like them good you know. Like this one now, a Tonga for a Tonga Zambian in the ubwato. How do you like it, Pumpy?
    Nipabwato, amenshi aleisa. Zambians prepare for a shocking experience.

  26. #36, this one is better than #37.
    Following on #37, Pumpy, don’t worry about Sata, the good Lord God’s Will wiil be done. As for HH, I know his purpose in this life will be done.
    About the usernames I choose, I like them good you know. Like this one now, a “Tonga username” for a Tonga Zambian in the ubwato. How do you like it, Pumpy?
    Nipabwato, amenshi aleisa. Zambians prepare for a shocking experience.

  27. Viva Pabwato for the last time in its history.
    Viva Sata and his new photo on LT. It looks presentable. I just love this man, Hon Sata.
    “Nikalasti boyi kanalengesa” – Danny.
    Bulanyikila bwato lino lino.

  28. Baakapokola naba kalwisha-bomulilo bachilafwaya ukukapitamo. Yaba. Meanwhile, ine ndafwaya aka-koko nangu aka-bata achi-Bemba aka kuupa. Mpantu abengi balemona kwati ine nalibapata aba-Bemba.

  29. this is serious and great cardindication of how ineffencent the fire fighting department is in zambia…if i recall this department is located right opposite the central police stattion

  30. Wow!!! these guys are like right across the street. This is a joke? Why don’t they just shut down the whole Damn thing. We get like 8 to 12 Fire Engines in less than 15min for a small apartment fire down here.That’s why we pay tax, so government can provide such services. Africa.. Africa.. when are we ever going to wake up. These politicians are taking us for a ride.

  31. Meanwhile, there was a near punch up between police officers and fire brigade officers as police accused the fire fighters of arriving too late to quench the inferno.

    hahahahahaha naseka sana!!!! that made my day

  32. Again I ask with the reporting other peoples comments red. What is wrong with # 1’s comment? Isn’t this person simply stating his opinion?

  33. They are not fire fighters,i belive they should be called fire observers.
    Don’t give pipo titles anyhow.You might end up expecting too much from them.
    One Zambia….

  34. fire fighters are not equiped at all,how can one explain such delays,they need things like nets,larders,helicopters and alot more,fire figthing is not just puting off fire with water.do they even have water anyway

  35. Don’t! I Repeat Don’t accuse electricity. you know whats happening. Last time it was phoenix, this time ni BOMA. you know what to do, this is a lesson. muchita monga si BOMA sure.

  36. Good nobody was burnt in the fires.

    In case of fire the first thing you do is make sure you are not in danger, then save somebody elses and property.

    On MUVI TV I was impressed to see an officer saving a half crate of empty beer bottles. The pants and socks were meanwhile burning. VIVA the officer

    Let the authorities take these fire issues seriously. In some countries when there is a fire, it is a drill. The total number of fire tenders we have in the country I am sure would only service on town.

  37. #53 & #54.You are on point.It is the same pipo behind these fires.We need outside intervention,we need arson investigators.

  38. This is just lack of seriousness concerning many things at the police and in Zed generally. Many people take things for granted. Surely this fire issue can be avoided. Last week it was the Radio station and now ni “BOMA”. The report is taking long already and no one will claim responsibility for the cause of the fire. That building was recently renovated and we really do not expect such a thing to happen.

    On the other hand, the fire fighting is incompetent in Zambia! They have never put off any fire. How can they arrive late at central police when they are just less than hundred metres away? It would only take them two minutes to get there. We a quick solution to the fire fighting!

  39. If the police in the first instance had CCTV Surveillance system as well as fire detectors, this accident could have been avoided or the damages could have been minimal. Again, if the on-call officer did not raise the alarm on time, there is no point in blaming the irresponsible fire team which is only a 100 metres away from the central police station. The Chief Fire Office should be investigated. As earlier stated, there is urgent need to set up a ‘Health & Safety’ department. Has the Police got no fire fighting equipment?? What if the fire had started from the jail rooms….?? Does the Police dept. do fire drills..???

  40. #52. It means that the MUNKOMBWE meeting and money was used wisely while the man of the moment HH will get the required votes.
    Nipabwato naaba nomba.

  41. I was actually near Lusaka central police station when the fire was raging. The “apartments” are not actually apartments but tents where paras live!!! I just wonder how you can have an electrical fault in a tent!!! Do tents have electrical wiring? Must definetly have been illegal wiring?

  42. Why a near punch up? Each time people protest against the Fire Fighters inefficiency, the police are always there to protect them, but what has changed now? Why can’t they condone the inefficiency people have been complaining about? The police thought our complaints were baseless, now they’ve felt the pinch ah! Kukosa nokukosa! Yet u r just neighbours there.

  43. Fire brigade ought to intoduce routine training and retraining of its fire fighters. Also there is need for business premises to install fire extinguishers/sand buckets at strategic points and ask competent people to conduct routine fire drills.
    So much need to be done with regards fire fighting in the country.

  44. Our good I G had given olders that all vehicles parked at the police stations should be removed to keep the places clean but now we are told half truths that the affected vehicles were caught yesterday Can someone explain pls why such olders are not followed this includes other olders on road blocks on copper belt

  45. I hope the Fire Brigade in Lusaka is not like the Livingstone one which has a 1945 fire engine donated by the British. The vehicle’s maximum speed is 20 KM/H and the hosepipe is like an ordinary garden hosepipe. Well if the GRZ does not invest in modern fire-fighting equipment and training property and buildings will continue to be at risk.

  46. Zedians please lets be serious for once. I dont believe that the govt has no money to equip the fire fighters. Why is the money meant for such channeled elsewhere and not the intended purpose. That is the reason why we need serious managers to manage this country. Manyadule bapakisa. Is this the legacy being sung about. I hate this government.

    VIVA HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FOR CHANGE

  47. Ba kapokola bamvela mwamene cimvekela kufika late pa scene of incident. Do unto others as you want them do unto you. Even them when called upon to quell a situation it takes them a centuary to arrive. Why should they get emotional when its them that need help? Wake up guys. Nimwamene naife timverela.

  48. police officers are fond of checking fire extinguishers in taxis and min buses But it appears they themselves do not have and if they have they do not know how to operate them I am very sure that fire did not start by explosion like a boom but it started slowly there was even smoke before the flame This could have been managed by one cylinder of CO2

  49. “just thinking aloud” Does one even know how that junk yard or ku waya looks like? Its lucky that it has taken this long to catch fire. The place is really a mess, and pliz dont call that place boma, its ku chishala or kumarabichi. Yet they get or steal so much money through impounding or pounding vehicles. Ba buju wake up!!

  50. #45 Good advice. as for me the police lost my car keeys at a roadblock and they boast that even if i take the metter to court it will take ages to be compensated even a period of more than 10 years so nishi wapangenshi. however i am just waiting for time before i take action.

  51. The kapokola who wanted to punch the fireman should be arrested for trying to take the law into his own hand. Why didn’t they complain using the rightful channel? That is what they preach to us so it should be simple for them to follow.

  52. I am the new campaign manager for the Mob of Molesters & Defilers (MMD) taking over from M Mulangizi the minister of Defilements and Mistrust. He accepted that we donated K15m after defiling constanzo mumbuni without consulting the MMD’s sugar daddy Rupen Bandit (RB). This affected the image of the great defiler to the extent that we had to hired damage repair costumes form foreign lands to recreated the nayama soya image. The Post will be given a new picture of RB in the new costumes. These of course have been paid for by the tax payers as RB is entitled to such abuse and defilements. Have you seen my wife? She is younger than RB’s wife.Viva MMD,Viva Molesters, Viva RB.(KK will be join us)

  53. Mwiiyi wa Musanza, u rily impress yesterday but one u were Maestro Hhheeeeeehhhe labelled TRIBALIST,in support of HH.
    2day u r anotha in support of PF,wats up? Is it becoz of KKs comment abt Sata makin a gud Minister (insinuating President)?
    I envy yo character man!

  54. I BRING BABYLON FLAT,GENTLEMEN AND LENDELEMEN, YOU SEE THE FIRE FIGHTERS ALSO WANT TO BE RECOGNISED,THE GOVERNMENT DONT CARE.ARE THE MINISTERS IN KNW HOW TO EVEN USE A SIMPLE EXTINGUSHER.SATA EKAFYE,TWAZIMINA MANINGI NA MMD,SATA TULUBULE.

  55. #76 Shibukombe, thanks very much. I will be back later to give you a full account on here. Just keep checking.
    Nibabwato boys, girl chalila. Amenshi yaleisa mukupwisha fyoonse before October 30, 2008.

  56. LEAVE THE FIREMEN ALONE, WHAT CAN THEY DO UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES? THE WHOLE LUSAKA IS SERVICED BY ONE OLD LEAKING FIRE ENGINE. DO YOU WANT THEM TO BE PUTING OUT FIRES WITH BRANCHES ???

  57. Its a shame that even though the fire brigade is just across the road they can’t even organise themselves to be there on time.

  58. the truth is that these guys are ill equiped at the time the fire started the best fire engine was in the garage being fixed. I hope we are going to see change soon.

  59. It also happened here in Ndola where a car caught fire just right at the main entrance to the Fire Brigade station. Poor lads, it had to take them time to realise that it was their job to put off the fire. We serously need to invest in this sector if we are to safe property and save lives.

  60. HEAD LINE!!!

    Its a shame that the fire brigade this, this and this, blah blah blah blah, said a police officer as he nearly squeezed the neck of a fire fighter for coming late to put out the fire at Central Police.

    PERHAPS OUR POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD FEEL THE WAY IT FEELS WHEN CRIME VICTIMS CALL ON THEM FOR HELP. THEY COME UP WITH ALL SORTS OF EXCUSES – NO TRANSPORT, NO FUEL – WHEN THEY DO COME, IT IS LONG AFTER A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED AND NO TRACE OF CRIMINALS

    I WISH THE SUCH VICTIMS COULD PUNCH THE POLICE OFFICERS WHEN EVER THEY DO NOT ACT PROMPTLY.

  61. Bane Inganda ya boma (government house) in Kabulonga is so so busy,panicing. Last evening there was a truck wth a container n only MMd and God knows wat was is there. This morning a marco polo and a tinted car,weh chalo tawaba fair.

  62. 3 85 princess -y … right on target.
    good that the cops on the receiving end so when one of them gets beaten up for coming late we will just refer to this incident.

  63. That is the price you pay for leavivng leadership to incorrigibles. No need to mention names here. Dear bloggers we of this type of mentality must rush back home to rescue our land from these wild dogs, otherwise posterity will judge both them for their failures and us for our staying back when our land neede us the most.

  64. #67

    That is very serious info yaba. I think my donkey cart can be put to some good use like transporting fire extinguishers where ever an inferno is.

  65. We may not compensate the owners of the vehicles because is was not intentional but an accident. Dull kapokola who told you that accidents are not compensated for? Infact you should compensate these poor pipo b4 october 30th so that next time you do not keep pipo”s property carelessly.

  66. Good lesson for these stupid cops. They do’nt know how it feels when they arrive late at a crime scene.They should also think of suitable places to keep impounded cars.
    Ba buju get a UNION to represent you! Vote wisely bakabwalala imwe!

  67. Zambia is a failed state. No doubt about what we have become. There is no government, just organized crooks.

  68. Iwe #7 calling yourself miss zambia, you cant even spell brigade,its not bridget,thats a girls name and you are saying you can buy that place.

  69. WHEN YOU CALL THE POLICE TO THE CRIME SCIENE THEY WILL FIRST ASK YOU WHAT TYPE OF WEAPONS THE CREAMINALS ARE USING AND WHAT TYPE OF A CAR ARE THEY DRIVING AND THEY ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY MONEY FOR FUEL. IF YOU CAN´T ANSWER THEN THEY SAY SORRY WE REALISE THAT WE DON´T EVEN HAVE A CAR AT THE MOMENT AND WE HAVE NO ENOUGH FUEL IN THE CAR THAT IS ARROUND HER WITH A PUNKCHERED TIRE. BA CHIWAMINA GALU KULUMA MBUZI.

  70. They are nextdoor neighbours yes! But they had to buy fuel from airport & fetch water from kafue river! On their way back they were held in the traffic jam since it was mid-day! The tank which was bought way back in 1973 leaking so by the time arrived at Police HQ is was empty. So they had to start the whole process again since they run out of fuel! What a paradox!!!

  71. Fantastic points altogether, you simply won a brand new reader. What may you suggest in regards to your put up that you simply made a few days in the past? Any positive?

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