FIRE has swept through some makeshift market stalls at Chifubu market in Ndola burning to ashes property worth thousands of kwacha.
The fire which started around 01:00 hours in the morning was only put out almost four hours later but by midday yesterday smoke was still billowing from the what remained of the merchandise which was reduced to a pile of rubble.
Marketeers, some of whom were sleeping within the market but escaped unhurt, and Chifubu residents struggled to put out the fire and only cleared wooden stalls out of the way the fire to avoid it spreading to other parts of the market.
The worst hit part was area where charcoal traders stock pile their ware as well as the stalls where some marketeers from long distant places keep their merchandise overnight.
A fire tender from Indeni Oil Petroleum which arrived at the scene when the fire had already been quenched was pelted by the angry residents who felt had the fire fighters had arrived earlier, there would not have been much damage.
Francis Musumba who lost four new bicycles, a solar panel, an inventor and other accessories in the inferno bemoaning the calamity and wondered how he was going to find his feet again in his business.
“I have lost my livelihood,” lamented Mr Musumba who was found sifting through smoldering ashes where his stand once stood in a vain attempt to salvage something.
Another marketeer Victoria Mbulo lost five crates of soft drinks, a Pepsi cooler and 300 chitenge materials that were all in trunks in a storeroom as well as a fully furnished restaurant.
A lady only identified as Bana Scholastic said she had recently got a loan from FINCA and that with the calamity that had befallen her she did not know how she was going to repay.
Copperbelt police commissioner Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident but said it was not yet known how the fire was started but that there were no human casualties recorded.
So sad!!
Ignoramus people
Thanks
Thats why the PF govts needs you people in the diaspora…there are no skills in zambia.. a fire tender arriving hours after the fire has already been put off (firemen were sleeping on duty).. awe suwa
Destroying a fire truck is typical third world thinking. How will this barbaric act help them.
Same as those residents in some shanty in Lusaka who destroyed a police post and now they want it back!
Poverty is in your minds people, free yourselves!
Ama residents balifulwa bad!
Sad story. God will provide
Ba Mwaba, yes its sad.but what I dont understand is the habit of stoning. Where has it come from surely. Kwati ni muli yesu futi. .ok but its sad.
Hope you had insurance!
Our people’s anger level is simmering! I wonder who is responsible for causing all this frustration! I will not be surprised if the boiling point is reached sooner rather than later ! And I wouldn’t blame them either for blowing their tops simply because they have been taken for granted for too long! have had enough share of lies, lies and more lies to last them a life time!! They lack all the essentials: health care facilities, employment, owned shelter, etc. We could begin to make a difference if only we could invest back home without hindrances!!!!
mwamba mutale, God provides to those who work for it. Insurance is the best protection against fire. God has never come down and will never ever come down to feed people. His job ended with creation and one has to fend himself.
Do not sell Hell and Heaven lullabies in this age and time.
learn to insure your property, also I thought such problems have ended under a new Bemba government, is this the change you wanted? Learn to vote wisely next time , stop tribalism it is making you suffer more and look primitive. Continue suffering , I am not suffering.
People in Zambia only relies the importance of having responsive and equipped front line services when calamity strikes.
Animal kingdom, such response from the people details what kind of society Zambia has, shame on you all, mental check up needed for the entire state people who cant even think or react rationally…… they need to be in jail what right do they have to attack innocent people who for that matter came to their aid, did they ponder on what might have caused the delay? If they had complaints why not table them like normal human beings…. indeed you will remain poor, everything points to that direction including your actions, what a life….. yes you lost property maybe your only source of income but that doesnt give you the right to behave like animals.
Chifubu market needs to be modernised. if that will be allowed may be there will be some good control measures against accidents like fire the markets in Ndola are too traditional.
Chachine. That market is old and its time the council built a modern market at the place. Even the Masala and Lubuto Markets need revamping. This is the 21st century mwebantu.
Firefighters are never on time in Zambia and one wonders what they do when there are no fires. The firefighting trucks are sometimes used for errands and when there’s a fire, that’s when the firefighters go looking for water. I have even seen the firefighting trucks ferrying charcoal.
Same people who block access by trading on every rd side and putting flammable stuff anywhere are now blaming the innocent firemen.Stupid africans.
Zambians it is high time you learned or built the culture of insuring whatever asset you posses. Get insurance cover & you won’t lose property in calamities like this in the future.