Kitwe City Fire Brigade Condemned For Its Delayed Responses To Fire Incidences

By Respite Kaoma 

Fire has swept through a shop belonging to Arkay Investments Limited Company located at Matuka Avenue, Kitwe Town Centre.The fire is alleged to have started around 18:30 hours of yesterday.

The fire incident was reported last evening around at 20:00 hours, by Arkay Company Kitwe Senior Regional Manager Gift Ng’ambi. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Mr. Ng’ambi revealed that, the shop had been burnt and property whose value is not yet ascertained destroyed in the inferno.

However, the incident resulted into looting with some people, running away with mattresses, Fridges, Television Sets, Chairs and other assorted household goods. Police arrived on time and managed to recover some house hold items looters dumped upon seeing them.

Speaking in an interview at the scene, an eye witnesses lamented over the Kitwe City Council Fire Brigade’s delay in responding to the fire.

Meanwhile, According to Copperbelt Commanding Officer Peacewell Mweemba, when the police visited the scene, they found the shop completely burnt. 

And Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya has sympathized with the owners of the building for the loss of properties, further admitting the Kitwe City Council’s need to work to revitalize the fire department, despite containing the fire.

The mayor has also stated that in the 2025 budget allocation funds to purchase a new fire engine has been included, while the fire fighting vehicle which is currently down is receiving the much needed attention for it to be functional.