Malawi on fire again, Mulanje Bus Depot and Mchinji market gutted
Tens of traders in Mulanje and Mchinji districts have respectively been left destitute after a fierce fire destroyed a bus depot and market.
In Mulanje, fire has destroyed a bus depot which also accommodates some shops, police have confirmed.
Mulanje police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Gresham Ngwira told Nyasa Times the incident happened on Friday evening destroying goods worth thousands of Kwachas.
“The fire started after a generator that was in one of the shops developed a fault. Shops and other property have been damaged following the incident but no injury or loss of life has been recorded,” said Ngwira.
He said meanwhile authorities are investigating the incident, among other things, to evaluate the cost of property damaged.
“We wish therefore to advise the general public against keeping flammable products in shops, buildings and even in houses. This is uncalled for as it endangers peoples’ lives and property as is the case here.”
And in Mchinji, a market has been razed down by fire on Saturday, which according sources was emanated from Electricity Supply Corporation (Escom) power lines.
Officials are yet to comment on the issue and reveal the extent of the damage the fire has caused. Meanwhile there are no reports of casualties.
The fire incident in the two district s comes a month after another fire gutted down Lilongwe Main Market, burning billions of money in merchandise and left hundreds of vendors destitute.
The incident has forced government through Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to send three senior officials at Lilongwe City Council on suspension.
Well at least we know that the Lilongwe Market fire was started by some Nigerian spares parts traders who have seen their share of trade going down since many Malawians started selling spare parts. You will notice that the fire in Lilongwe Market started where they sell car spares.
But to the disappointment of all who know this, the Nigerians have not been arrested or questioned because some law enforcers are on their pay roll. You can cry about burning markets for all they care
The mediocrity in our public amenities is so nauseating that one wonders if we have planning authorities at all. You don’t need a risk expert to see that that we’ve been and are brooding catastrophes such as these. Let’s institutionalize standards and quality assurance at all levels of our governance structures.
All this because of Escom. Generators all over because of black outs.
It is surprising how we are unable to get to the root of these fires. After the Lilongwe Market fire, I speculated that the cause of the fires, the majority of which involve markets, is highly suspicious and I even faulted government’s tendency of compensating affected businesses. While it may appear politically correct, the tendency may perhaps, be the motivation behind these strange fires. Some evil-minded people may be starting these fires because of jealousy of other people who may have more goods in their stores. And again, there is no proper system of verifying the values of damaged property… Read more »
The cheap chinese electric applicances we are using are causing us much loses
The main cause of the fires, and the spread thereof has to do with inferior building materials, sticks and cardboard paper that is seen all over the place. Those materials promote the spread of fire.