Hundreds of entrepreneurs operating from Mpopoma Outspan factory in Bulawayo lost property and equipment estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of United States dollars due to a fire that razed down their workspace on Wednesday morning.
Popularly known as eSpamprekini, the workspace accommodated over 400 workers, including several informal traders who sell their wares to clients who frequented the venue.
The fire destroyed sofas, foam rubbers, sewing machines, and infrastructure such as sheds used as workstations, while some workers were injured and taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment.
The source of the fire, which began around 6 am, is unknown for now but some believe it was caused by a fault, while others suspect arson.
As the fire brigade battled to put out the fire, desperate entrepreneurs also attempted to salvage what they could before the fire spread throughout the workstations.
The affected businesspersons pleaded for the government and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene as they had lost their source of livelihood.
They noted that some of the goods there were complete and yet to be delivered to their clients while some were destined for clients in the city center.
According to one of the affected businesspeople, Never Sarukore, the fire razed down property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“I hear the fire started from one corner of the workshop, where there are foam rubbers, no one knows exactly what happened. The first person who saw fire called the fire brigade, which found the fire had spread uncontrollably,” he said.
Sarukore, who makes sofas and fabrics, said they urgently need help from the government.
“We are now desperate and this is a matter of urgency as it is our livelihood. The president must get involved,” he said.
“We have not seen the mayor or governor coming to assess the damage and we are just waiting for at least any government official. This workshop benefited the community and a majority of youth were surviving from proceeds from this place, now they will be jobless. We pray they don’t turn to crime. We also appeal to businesspeople to assist us.”
Vice Chairman of the Mpopoma Outspanner Association, Voice Moyo, aged 50, who has worked there since 1996, was devastated and expressed disappointment with the fire brigade’s performance.
“Nothing like this has happened since 1996. I am hurting and feel powerless,” he said.
Moyo claimed he works two jobs, one at night and while during the day upholstery, and had just arrived when he heard about the fire.
“I am disappointed that the fire brigade didn’t do what we expected them to do. We were directing them but they did not listen to us. Most of the brigade vehicles came when the fire had spread. I am pained by this loss, which runs into billions (ZimDollar),” he claimed.
Moyo also concurred the government must step in to assist them.
“The president always says ‘nyika inovakwa never vayo’ and we were doing just that but now we ask for help to boost us,” he said.
Another entrepreneur, Tsauria Toma, who has worked there for 17 years was at a loss for words.
He stated he recently arrived from his rural area in Chivhu to start work only to be met with this disaster.
“I lost about 15 sets of sofas. The sofas ranged from US$400 to US$600. Some sofas were here for repairs and their owners had already paid for them. Some sofas were complete but their owners were looking for bigger accommodation,” he said.
“My workers were also cut by the asbestos and are in Mpilo Hospital. All this needs money, which I don’t have.”
An emotional Edward Maruziva stated his work at eSpamprekini was his only source of money and had no other means of making an income.
Jethro Mangwindime described leaving home, expecting a ‘normal busy day’ at work, only to receive calls about the fire.
“This is messed up. We need assistance with anything because we are now grounded to zero. I don’t know if we will ever pick up,” he said
