The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
Over the past four months, property worth over thousands of dollars went up in smoke in four different fire incidents reported in the newly established Checheche Town.
The sad development has since been named ‘The Curse of Checheche’ by locals.
Although no fatalities were recorded, nothing was recovered from the four fire incidents.
Residents believe the mysterious fires were as a result of a third force.
When The Manica Post visited Checheche, which was recently upgraded from a growth point to a town, the closely knit community expressed their views on what they termed as weird and suspicious infernos.
The first shop to catch fire was Kujo Shop in November 2022.
Nyamanhoma Shop was then razed down in December, while the Hlomani Shop followed suit in January.
February saw the Chiororo Shop been razed down by the mysterious fire.
What baffles Checheche residents the most is that three of these shops were burnt at night when there was no electricity, thereby ruling out any electrical faults as possible causes of the fires.
A vendor, Ms Claris Chirasha said they suspect that jealousy induced witchcraft is at play.
“The truth is that all these shops were successful and they were the talk of the town. They caught fire when they were at the peak of their business operations and on everyone’s lips. This is why we are suspecting witchcraft,” she said.
A businessman, Mr Taurai Munongorerwa said they are keeping their fingers crossed as they fear that their businesses might be the next on the firing line.
“Honestly, we are wondering whose shop will be next because we no longer know if these infernos are electrical faults or man-made. They could be arson attacks from jealousy people or it could be an act of witchcraft. Fire cannot just start and burn down a whole shop just like that. It is getting scary,” he said.
Another resident and businessman, Mr Taurai Hlomani whose Sandak Centre specialised in plastic shoes and utensils, spoke about his shop that was razed down during the night of January 6.
“I was at church and my wife and kids were sleeping in the shop. There were five people in the shop. Since it was a busy season, we were staying at the shop and not at home.
“My wife said around midnight, she felt excess heat, both from the floor and in the air. When she went into the next room to investigate, she realised that the shop was on fire. She managed to wake up the children and they escaped unhurt. Had she not felt that heat, they would have all perished in that fire.
“When I arrived from church, the shop had been reduced to a shell. Nothing was salvaged from the inferno. There was no electricity on the day, therefore we rule out an electric fault,” he said.
Mr Taurai Hlomani was left counting his losses after fire reduced his shop to rubble
When the GreenFuel Fire Brigade arrived, the shop’s roof had already collapsed.
Mr Hlomani said he lost goods worth R200 000 and he has since been ordered to repair the rented shop by its owners by June this year.
A few shops away, the Chiororo Shop remains deserted as it was also razed down by an inferno during the early hours of February 16.
In an interview, the owner’s brother, Mr Richman Chiororo said the cause of the fire could not be established.
However, Mr Chiororo said they suspect that an electric fault caused the fire.
“It was early morning and I was already sweeping outside the shop when someone called and alerted me that the shop was on fire. When I rushed to the shop, I realised that the whole shop was on fire. We did all we could to stop the fire, but all our efforts were in vain.
“Four tenants who were running a grocery, electrical appliances and clothes retailing businesses inside the shop were left counting their losses,” he said.
Checheche Town does no fire brigade yet.
