Fire victims get donations

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MAKOKOBA councillor James Sithole and the suburb’s residents last Thursday donated groceries to two families whose house was gutted by fire sparked by a paraffin stove that was knocked down by a child.

MAKOKOBA councillor James Sithole and the suburb’s residents last Thursday donated groceries to two families whose house was gutted by fire sparked by a paraffin stove that was knocked down by a child.

LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT

The residents donated blankets, sanitary wear, cooking utensils, clothes and food stuffs.

Families from Kusile Flats lost property worth about $5 000 while a granny, Kandita Nzunga, suffered burns rescuing her grandchildren trapped in the fire.

Addressing residents, Sithole said Makokoba and Bulawayo residents should come together and assist the two families that were left with nothing.

“The residents of Makokoba and the entire city residents must make it their responsibility to ensure that the needs of the two families are catered for as the accident left them with nothing,” he said. “We must provide moral support for the families as the accident has left them traumatised.

“Residents must be readily available to offer any assistance to family members, taking into consideration the families consist of young children.”

He said the fire brigade had been requested to provide material to cover the roof destroyed by the inferno.

Nzunga, who was at a funeral when the fire broke out, rushed to the house with neighbours and managed to drag the children, who were trapped in the house to safety.

The blaze was put out by the fire brigade.

Nzunga said she was grateful for the donation as she had been left with nothing.

“I am grateful to what this community has done because I had no clue what I was going to do next,” she said.

“I am a vendor and I do not generate much income and I do not even know how I will replace property that I lost.

“The few groceries that the community has given to us mean a lot and will definitely keep us going.”