By Rex Mphisa
AT least 36 vendors lost their goods on Tuesday night when an inferno razed two front rows of the Tshitaudze Market, Municipality of Beitbridge Deputy town clerk Sathulana Moyo said on Wednesday.
“We are preparing a comprehensive report that will be issued by midday but preliminarily I can confirm the fire destroyed two front rows of tye market and 36 vendors were affected and lost their goods.”
“I received a call at about 1900 hours informing me about the fire. It is said to have been sparked by fuel. As you can see council workers are cleaning the area. We will be going back to the drawing board as for the way forward,” Moyo said.
MoB, he said, will by midday Wednesday have a press statement ready and this will also carry recommendations on way forward.
An inferno razed part of the market where a woman said she could have easily lost groceries worth R20 000.
“Apart from the fire, we lost to looting. People just ran riot looting goods. They attacked part of my market as we tried to remove some goods to safety,” she said.
Riot police moved in after the melee and drove people away as vendors guarded what remained of their goods.
Unconfirmed reports said some people had been arrested in connection with the fire.