MRA offices at Malawi border post Songwe gutted

Fire gutted offices of Malawi Revenue Authority  (MRA) warehouse at Songwe boarder in Karonga in the early hours of Friday destroying  a lot of property and documents.

Locals helped MRA officers at the facility to put out the fire , exploded into view around 9.30am before fire fighters from Chilumba Barracks came to extinguish.

The fire  reportedly started with sudden sparks from a computer server.

The tragedy struck a building which houses Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Department of Immigration, Malawi Police Services and public agencies.

Sergeant Yusuf Shaibu, Immigration spokesperson at Songwe Border, described the damage as “minimal “, saying  the rescuers  who included public officers, clearing agents, villagers and travellers, saved vital goods on time.

Songwe, which lies side by side with Kasumulu Border Post on Tanzania’s side, is a gateway to East Africa.

Arrivals and departures at Songwe Border came to a standstill following the fire.