Ndirande fire victims plead for assistance

Business operators who lost property in a fire that gutted a make-shift market adjacent to Ndirande Main Market in Blantyre have appealed for urgent assistance from well-wishers in form of soft loans.

In an interview at the scene yesterday, one of the affected business operators, Laston Kandodo, who owned a furniture shop, said they need urgent assistance to get back to their feet.

“I have lost property worth over K1 million. This means my family will be affected. Therefore, I appeal to well-wishers to help us with materials to build new shelters or offer us soft loans to get back to business,” he said.

Another affected person, Esme Memenani, who was selling potato chips and soft drinks, said the fire damaged her goods worth K700 000.

“I am a single mother looking after six children. The accident will affect my children. Therefore, I am open to all who may wish to help me get back to my feet,” she said. 

Ndirande Market vice-chairperson Ernest Bwanali said the fire, which broke out on Sunday evening, destroyed 11 shops which also hosted a number of businesses.

However, he faulted the Blantyre City Council fire brigade for getting to the scene late to put out the fire.

“The fire brigade arrived late at the scene when the shops were already up in flames. If they came earlier, we could have saved some items,” said Bwanali.

Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana, who visited the site, also blamed the fire brigade for coming late to the scene.

He said: “It is surprising that most fire engines are at the airport where only two aeroplanes land per day. The council should construct fire brigade stations, for instance in Ndirande and Chilomoni townships so that during fire incidents, they can easily arrive on time.”

Blantyre City Council senior fire fighter Prescort Sailasi declined to comment on the matter, saying he was out of office.

The questionnaire sent to the council’s public relations office was also not responded to by press time at 9pm.

In an interview, Ndirande Police Station public relations officer Jailosi Maxwell said the police were still investigating the cause of the fire.

He said: “The cause of fire is not yet known; hence, police are still investigating the matter and until then, we will communicate.

“So far, we have also not recorded any injuries or death. We have also not established the value of the property destroyed.”

The fire destroyed electrical appliances, including plasma television sets and refrigerators as well as sofa sets, among other items.

The fire incident comes barely two weeks after the council conducted a fire prevention and control campaign in the township.