The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter—-
A RAGING fire ravaged Zanu-PF national secretary for youth affairs, Cde Kudzi Chipanga’s 12-roomed villa at his Wakefield Farm in Headlands, reducing property worth at least $50 000 to ashes, The Manica Post can reveal.
Cde Chipanga confirmed the inferno which broke out on Wednesday afternoon and consumed almost everything in the house.
He said separate reports were made to the police and Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution and Transmission Company and investigations were in progress to establish the actual cause of the fire.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the incident and said investigations were in progress.
“Police are investigating a case in which a farm house at Wakefield Farm was razed by fire on Wednesday around 2pm. There were no reports of injuries as the house was unoccupied when the incident occurred,” said Insp Kakohwa.
Cde Chipanga said the house was uninhabitable and the family was now staying in the cottage on the farm pending completion of renovations of the gutted property.
“Luckily, no-one was in the house at the time and if it was a night, it could have been a disaster.
“Property can be easily replaced, but not human life. I value human life more than property and luckily the fire occurred during the day when my family was out doing other chores,” said Cde Chipanga.
“I cannot say what caused the fire at the moment pending an informed opinion by experts. All I have been briefed on is that a security guard manning the property detected thick black smoke coming from the home and alerted other farm workers,” said Cde Chipanga, adding that attempts to douse the fire by farm workers were in vain as they lacked efficient equipment.
The workers attempted to douse the fire with buckets of water and sand. They failed to do so and were forced to watch helplessly as the tiled roof curved in.
“Only two vehicles, a Toyota D4D and Ford Ranger that were in the garage were saved after security personnel broke the windows and pushed them to safety. All household property was destroyed in the inferno,” said Cde Chipanga.
“The family is traumatised because we never anticipated such things to happen. We have to accept it and focus on renovations so that we have a decent roof over our heads,” said Cde Chipanga.
