Retailers count losses after fire destroys property
MORE than 70 retailers operating at Kingsway Shopping Mall at the corner of Julius Nyerere Way and Agostinho Neto Avenue in central Harare are still reeling from a devastating fire that destroyed the building and their wares on Sunday night.
The cause of the fire has not been established, but eyewitnesses said indications were that there could have been an electrical fault from a room upstairs.
While no one was hurt, clothing shops, a hair salon, pharmacies, an electrical shop, and a furniture shop are among some of the destroyed premises.
The building is owned by Gilchrist and Cooksey company and company director, Mr Gabriel Chiuriri, said everything in the building was destroyed.
“When the fire started I was not here but those who were present said they managed to break a window to try and retrieve some stuff ,but they failed. The fire brigade came and only managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings and none of the retailers managed to remove anything,” he said.
While the building was insured, it is not known whether this covers compensation for the 70 tenants.
A street person identified as Aaron said the fire started from one of the shops and all shops were closed.
“I just saw small flames on that corner upstairs. Suddenly, the flames got bigger and the security called the fire brigade but most of the goods were destroyed. The owner of only one shop managed break the window to remove clothing items, gas tanks and phones,” he said.
One retailer who operated a shop in the mall, identified only as Mrs Florence, said she lost goods worth over US$10 000 in the fire.
“I am hurt, this table was my only source of income and I do not know where to start from. I have orphans to look after. I lost braids, tracksuits and shoes worth US$10 500. I failed to retrieve anything and
I wish we could be compensated,” she said.
Another tenant, Mrs Diana, who was still in shock, said she came to the scene during the fire.
“I received a phone call while I was at home when I arrived at the scene, the flames were all over the building and I did not manage to retrieve anything. The stuff I had was worth about US$5 000.”
Another retailer identified as Mr Soko said he was speechless.
“My kitchen chairs, coffee tables and photocopying machines were all destroyed. I came, but I could not retrieve anything and we are waiting for the owner of this building to tell us the way forward.”
Harare City Council Head of Corporate Communications Mr Stanley Gama said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
“Investigations are in progress but it is suspected that it was caused by an electrical fault in an upstairs salon,” he said.
Mr Gama said the city council would be closing all illegally partitioned shops which were not inspected by the fire brigade.