Three shops at Lusaka’s Kabwata Main Market have been affected by fire leaving one shop completely gutted.
Lusaka City Council LCC, Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba, says the fire incident occurred on Monday, 10th June 2024 between 23:00hrs and 01:00hrs.
“The affected shops are numbers B1, B2, and B3, with the fire believed to have started in shop B1, which deals in popping popcorn,” said Ms. Mwamba in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
Ms. Mwamba said that initial investigations have revealed that the shop operator of shop B1 experienced a minor fire incident during the day, but decided not to report the case to market authorities.
She also said that the operator did not switch off the popcorn machine in a shop that contained approximately 40 liters of cooking oil, after the market was load-shedded at around 15:00hrs.
Ms. Mwamba has since cautioned traders and the public to ensure they switch off their appliances whenever there is a power cut and report any fire incidents to authorities.
By Margaret Mwanza
