Wednesday, 21 August 2013

EKWENDENI MARKET COLLAPSE WITH FIRE, MP CALLS FOR SUPPORT


By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Member of Parliament for Mzimba East Constituency Catherine Gotani Hara has called on well wishers to assist Ekwendeni Market business operators who have lost their businesses due to fire accident that hit the market on Monday’s night.

Speaking with Voice of Kanyawazi yesterday when she visited the collapsed market, she expressed sadness saying the accident is a heavy blow to the lives of people as the business is their source of survival.
I would like to share my sadness to the people of Ekwendeni which is my constituency, as you know this was their source of livelihood and as am talking, these people are in despair because they have lost everything.

“Now you set back and think of a family that has been relying sorely on making little something from the produce they have been selling here some of them had taken loans, for me as MP that makes me so sad,” she said.

Hara promised that shortly business operators will move into the new market which government is about to finish its construction. 

She appealed to all well wishers to assist with a little something they have and urged all financial providers to assist with loans so that these people may have a little to start with.

According to one of the eye witness Deliwe Chirwa the fire started around 10pm on Monday 19th at Ziba’s shop at the market.

She said people tried to stop the fire but to no avail as the fire was so fierce and there was luck of accord because others started robbing the materials instead of assisting in putting the fire off.

When the fire department was called at the start of the fire, the department did not respond timely till late mid night whilst fire had destroyed everything, a development that angered the people and they were chased away. 

During the incident a watchman for the market lost life few hours after the fire started. According to medical report from Ekwendeni hospital the watchman died due to high blood pressure.

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