Zambia: Another fire destroys market

By O’Brian Mwiinga

LUSAKA (AA) - Another mysterious fire has blazed through Masala Main Market, destroying millions of dollars worth of property in Ndola, the Copperbelt Province capital in north-central Zambia.

Ndola city council clerk Wisdom Bwalya told journalists at a news briefing on Wednesday morning that the fire had displaced over 3,500 people.

Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga also told journalists the investigation on the cause of the fire was still ongoing.

"With recent happenings in Zambia, the police cannot rule out the possibility of sabotage at this stage. But it is too early for the police to make conclusions," Katanga warned.

Masala Main Market in Ndola is the second largest market in Zambia to be ravaged by a fire since acts of arson began to occur last April.

Following that series of arson and sabotage acts, more specifically after the largest market in Lusaka was set on fire, Zambian President Edgar Lungu declared a state of emergency earlier this summer.

Zambia had its first multi-party election in 1991 and has since enjoyed stability. However, violence between opposition followers and Lungu’s supporters marred last August’s vote.