OVER 700 jobs were lost while the lives of several small-scale formal traders operating at the once-thriving Mpopoma Outspan factory are at stake after their factory shells were gutted by fire with property worth millions of dollars going up in flames.
The traders lost furniture and equipment when the fire
broke out yesterday morning resulting in the factory being reduced to rubble.
The fire broke out around 5.45am in a small section of the
vast factory and quickly spread.
The factory, popularly known as Spamprekini, is situated
along Nketa Drive adjacent to Mpopoma Recreational Park.
So enterprising was the factory that Mpopoma Outspan
Association had perfected its operations to a level where both big and small
buyers from different parts of the country flocked into the humble factory to
place their orders.
Last year, Chronicle established that the factory produced
around 400 high-quality lounge suites per month, 300 wardrobes and 250 kitchen
units.
Now the factory with all its machinery has been reduced to
ruins.
When the Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene shortly
after 6am, scores of stall owners and residents stood in utter disbelief as
they watched helplessly their source of income vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Visibly shaken workers, some still in pajamas, watched as fire fighters battled
to put out the blaze.
Some, with tears rolling down their cheeks, braved the
raging fire as they stormed inside the factory in a desperate bid to salvage some
of their merchandise.
One of the local residents, Mr Trynos Kapfudzaruwa, broke a
gas tank stall whose roof was burning to retrieve tanks.
“I had to do it to save the factory. I do not own a stall
in this place, but I saw it fit to assist because this has been an economic
empowerment place for most people in our area,” he said.
The news crew also observed one woman with a baby strapped
on her back, entering her stall to retrieve her stock.
According to a Bulawayo Fire Brigade official preliminary
report, the first unit from Nketa arrived on site at 6.22am.
The report states that the suspected cause of the fire was
“carelessly discarded lit material”.
“The entire premises were well alight with large volumes of
smoke issuing out. Flames could be seen from a distance and producing serious
crackling sounds,” read the report.
“The Fire Brigade observed that the entire club was
involved, and that the materials mainly involved were timber, foam rubbers and
other accessories all used towards the manufacture and repair of sofas and
beds.”
According to the report, 75 percent of large quantities of
timber, sofas, bed material and tools were damaged. The estimated value of the
property is $350 million while the estimated loss is $175 million.
The factory had a furniture manufacturing section, grinding
mills, a tombstone-making area, a kitchen with different small food outlets, a
gas selling point, a tuck shop, and a poultry area with chickens.
Mpopoma Outspan Association vice chair, Mr Voice Moyo, who
has been working at the factory since 1996, said they are devastated.
“We are in deep shock and devastated by what happened. We
have lost everything and millions of finished products, materials and equipment
have been lost,” he said.
“We are appealing to the Government to assist us to get
back on our feet. Official members in our database are 227 and all of them lost
everything.”
One of the furniture manufacturers, Mr Tadiwanashe
Gamuchirai, said he noticed fumes from a distance and immediately rushed to
retrieve his machines.
However, he lost all his finished products comprising
couches and beds.
“I don’t know where l am going to get the money to refund
some customers who had already paid deposits,” said Mr Gamuchirai.
Ms Nelisiwe Moyo, who run a kitchen shop, said the disaster is a huge blow to their business as the factory was their only source of income.
“I could not believe my eyes when l saw flames and
everything was destroyed. I am grateful to the people who helped me to remove
my property before it was destroyed.”
A Mpopoma resident, Mr Tinashe Mpofu, said he was compelled
to assist retrieve an assortment of equipment.
He said the factory also created employment opportunities
for youths and women.
“I hope that they had insured their business ventures so
that they can start rebuilding their empire again,” said Mr Mpofu.
Mr Isaac Masimba said although he managed to salvage a few
items, he lost all his machinery. Chronicle
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