Thursday, March 28, 2024

New Kasanda Market in Kabwe gutted

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FURNITURE and timber worth thousands of Kwacha have been burnt to ashes in unclear circumstances at New Kasanda Market in Kabwe.

The fire is reported to have started around 20:30 hours on Friday in sections where carpenters make and sell furniture.

Some eye-witnesses claimed the fire started after sparks were seen on electricity cables while others claimed the fire started under two poles on which a transformer is mounted.

A check by the Sunday Mail around 21:00 hours at the market found police officers, officers from the fire brigade and officers from Zesco struggling to extinguish the raging fire.

Some owners of the furniture, who rushed to the market, were seen wailing over the loss of the property.

And some onlookers poured scorn on the fire brigade for failing to extinguish the fire, which consumed chairs, cupboards, wooden doors and timber.

Among the senior Government officials found on the scene were Central Province minister Sydney Mushanga and his permanent secretary, Chanda Kabwe, Kabwe district commissioner Dominic Mulenga, Kabwe town clerk Ronald Daka and Central Province commissioner of police Lombe Kamukoshi.

And in an interview, a visibly disappointed Mr Mushanga described the burning of the furniture and timber as an unfortunate development.

“This is very sad. This is one of the biggest markets we have in Central Province,” Mr Mushanga said.

Mr Mushanga said Kabwe has no fire tender, and that is why the fire brigade failed to extinguish the fire.

Mr Mushanga said the Ministry of Local Government has procured 12 fire tenders and Kabwe will receive two.

“We have been helplessly watching because we don’t have a fire tender. The Ministry of Local Government has assured us that we will be provided with two fire tenders,” he said.

And Mr Kabwe, who visited New Kasanda Market yesterday to check on the situation, said police have launched investigations into the cause of the fire.

“Let us allow our colleagues from the security wings to do their investigations,” Mr Kabwe said.

Mr Kabwe commended all the officers and marketeers who helped in extinguishing the fire because this also helped in saving the Zesco transformer.

20 COMMENTS

    • Suspect UPND are part of this.

      I would be surprised if they are not

      Shame really isn’t it ?

      Thanks

      BB2014,2016

    • We were very clear on this matter that a State of emergency or whatever it is called will not stop this. These things only work if the police already have suspects and are efficient. Under Kanganja, this is the most inept police service in the history of Zambia. I do not know why Lungu does not diplomatise the man. Send him to be Zambia’s ambassador to Afghanistan.

    • Ba koswe ba PF want to burn all markets in Zambia.

      Which ever way one looks at it, Lungu and his stooges are responsible for this mess by stealing huge sums of money to enrich themselves instead of investing in fire safety measures. How a country not have enough fire tenders which cost only about £10000 for a very good 5-6years old fire tender. £1milion can buy about 100 of them as a starting point.

      Ba Chimbwi are stealing over $1milion every month and share it amongst themselves instead spending it on safety measures.

      How can an invester be pursuaded to invest in a country with a very poor fire safety record like this.

      PF and Lungu supporters must wake up and put a stop this madness by withdrawing the support for PF and Lungu.

      FreeHH now.

  1. Zambia must have the worst firesaftey record in S Africa.
    The electrical wiring is geared to wards load sheading and blackouts and cannot cope with a normal electricity supply…..

    With massive ubanisation and the end of load sheading Strategic business people should be ready for major fire safety laws upgrade.

    If PF GRZ were thinkers they would start creating an enabling envioment for indiginous assembbling of fire extingishers and smoke alarms and other fire fighting and prevention kit in zambia.

    An opportunity for job creation is presenting itself. Don’t let it slip away like you did with load sheading when solar panels could have been assembled in Zambia.. ..

  2. SAD AND VERY EMBARRASING YET KABWE HAS A FIRE TRAINING SCHOOL. MUSHANGA YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR WORK. AND THE HEADLINE IS MISLEADING KASANDA MARKET WAS NOT GUTTED THIS FURNITURE SITS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS CAUSED I AM SURE BY AN ELECTRIC FAULT. STOP SPREADING DANGEROUS PROPAGANDA LUSAKA TIMES.

  3. There is no opposition involved here clearly its a ZESCO short circuit on the over head lines or transformer. ……unless ZESCO is an opposition political party……I need to be edified. Please advise and lets keep politics out of natural disasters or else we will be sending wrong signals every where.

  4. PF started their scheme of burning Lusaka market and blaming it on the opposition. They promised security of all markets. What has happened? Now all markets want new markets and the easiest way is to burn the existing one. This could still be PF’s plan to keep talking about the state of emergency.

  5. When ever there is a fire ,i always think of Upnd. Upnd ‘s strategy of burning government infrastructure has back fired. So people will always point at UPND whenever there is a fire until proven other wise. Ba HH see what you have done to the Upnd.

  6. “Mr Mushanga said Kabwe has no fire tender, and that is why the fire brigade failed to extinguish the fire.”
    Where did all those 42 million dollar Fire Engines the PF govt procured go to??

  7. in the garden of Eden Lucifer painted Jehovah GOD with a bad picture, however skeleton minded pipo wu lack flesh and fat will paint UPND as a causer. in dat way we wont progress! coz we cant fill a pity by digging another pity… lets stop finger pointing my fellow brethren

  8. It’s upnd no two way about it. You will believe me if I send you a watsup photo where mukuni was talking about lighting striking. Upnd supporters have a watsup group where they share evil matters.

  9. You guys PF n UPND need to stop this , you just punishing innocent people who are trying to make ends meet. This business of sabotage n attacks at graveyards has no place , your stupid politics has gone too far.

  10. Live with it whatever the cause a precedent has been set that such disasters will attract government intervention! There is lack of expertise in fire outbreaks management and safety and to top it all when a fire accident happens incompetence is manifest in that no immediate counter measure is applied!

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