At least seven shops have been gutted by fire in the early hours of Thursday at Lubinga Market, sending shockwaves through a community already grappling with economic challenges.
The affected shops were situated along a section of the market known locally as “The Devil Street,” an area notorious for its congestion and lack of safety infrastructure.
Chairperson for the market area, Fostino Banda, confirmed the incident, saying the fire broke out at dawn under unclear circumstances.
“We called the fire department, but they came after everything had already burned. So we chased them,” Banda told reporters, expressing frustration over the delayed response from city authorities.
Among the hardest hit is Wezzie Chunda, a hardware shop owner, who lamented the dual blow of fire damage and looting.
“I’ve lost goods worth over K2 million. While the fire was burning, some people came pretending to help but instead stole from us,” she said, fighting back tears.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson has confirmed that investigations are underway to establish both the cause of the fire and identify those who looted the shops during the chaos.
City officials are yet to release an official statement, but calls are growing louder for improved safety measures, including the installation of fire hydrants and a rapid response system at local markets.
As traders count their losses, many are demanding answers and action.