Despite having taken delivery of a quality and
state-of-the-art fire tender from the government recently, the council’s
response team failed to attend to the fire on time which occurred at a house in
Chikangwe high-density suburb where one Takudzwa Muromba lost his life.
Another victim was rushed to Karoi Hospital before being
transferred to Harare where he was yesterday said to be in a critical but
stable condition.
Last year, another illegal fuel dealer lost his life in
Chikangwe town after a drum of petrol exploded inside a house with two getting
serious injuries.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations of Residents
Trust (ZNOART) provincial chairman, Mr Liberty Chitiya said it was worrisome
that people in the town continued to lose lives and property from fires.
“Our worry as residents is Karoi Town Council and ZERA are
failing to nip all illegal fuel activities within residential areas as this is
the second fire in recent days happening in Karoi and Chikangwe to be specific.
There was no response from the council’s fire department despite them acquiring
a state-of-the-art fire engine in December last year,” he said.
The fire department’s non-responsiveness, he said, showed a
deep lack of commitment to duty by the CCC-led council staff.
However, Karoi Mayor, Cllr Kudakwashe Chigumo downplayed
the allegations saying communication of the fire was relayed late leading to
the delayed response by the fire team after the truck suffered a battery
malfunction.
There were also widespread rumours of alleged workers on
their lowest morale due to no salaries and victimisation which is alleged to
have led to the resignation of a housing officer with residents challenging the
Local Government and Public Works Ministry to look into alleged issues. Herald
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