Victoria Falls Reporter
A teacher from Chinotimba in Victoria Falls lost property running into thousands of dollars when his rented house was gutted by fire on Wednesday evening.The cause of the inferno that started round 7PM destroying property belonging to Augustine Sibanda, a teacher at Chinotimba Primary School, has not been established.
Only a bed and a few clothes that were in the main bedroom were salvaged, while property including two beds, two fridges, sofas, a room divider, a printer, a television set and many electrical gadgets, identity particulars, certificates, clothes, stove and numerous items were reduced to ashes.
The house is one of the dilapidated government houses in the suburb inhabited by civil servants from different departments.
Nkosilathi Sibanda, son to the teacher, said he was at a loss for words as he could not figure out what could have started the fire. “I came back from work at around 5.30PM and removed my uniform and picked my books and went to school. I was shocked when I received a phone call from my father at about 7PM saying the house was on fire,” said Nkosilathi, who works at a local clothing chain.
His father was at their rural home in Dete on holiday when the inferno occurred.
“I don’t know what caused the fire because I did not touch anything when I came at 5PM and all was normal. Now everything is gone including my certificates and identity particulars. All property has been lost. This bed was saved by the Fire Brigade because they poured water before it could spread to the main bedroom,” a distraught Nkosilathi said.
When Chronicle visited the house yesterday morning, residents were still coming in droves to witness what had happened.
Some blamed Zesa for the fire while others accused the Fire Brigade of lacking seriousness, as the crew arrived in time, but without water in their truck.
“They came without water and went back and that was late, as the fire quickly spread,” fumed a neighbour.
The neighbours said they have started contributing one dollar per household to help the family.
Neighbours had to break the doors as the desperately tried to put out the fire as the rescue crew delayed.
Said Morgan Dube: “The reaction by the Fire Brigade shows how incapacitated we are to react to such unfortunate incidents. This does not happen on a daily basis but why would they go there without proper equipment? The family has lost everything and we as residents may need to consider insuring our property against such accidents.
“For now we are appealing to the corporate world to assist.”
Ward 7 councillor Norris Nyathi said they would today convene a meeting of residents to establish a well-wishers committee to raise funds to help the family.
“Nothing was recovered and we are planning a meeting for tomorrow evening where we want to set up a fundraising committee for the family. They might not recover everything but just to get a few things,” said Clr Nyathi, also Victoria Falls deputy mayor.