FIRE GUTS ABOUT 20 MAKESHIFT STRUCTURES AT KAMWALA TRADING AREA
Lusaka… Wednesday August 19, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
About 20 makeshift trading structures were gutted by fire at Kamwala Trading Area in Lusaka on Tuesday night, with preliminary investigations indicating that the blaze may have started from a brazier left burning at a makeshift restaurant.
Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi said the fire occurred around 20:40 hours on August 18, 2026, behind Downtown Shopping Mall along the railway line.
Mr Chilabi said Kabwata Police Station received a report of the incident and promptly dispatched officers to the scene.
“Upon arrival, the officers found several makeshift trading structures that had been gutted by the fire,” he said.
He said personnel from the Lusaka City Council Fire Brigade were also at the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze.
Mr Chilabi said preliminary investigations suggested that the fire could have originated from a brazier that was reportedly left burning at a makeshift restaurant.
He said no injuries had been reported in connection with the incident, while the full extent of the damage and the value of property destroyed had yet to be established.
“An inquiry file has been opened, and investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident,” Mr Chilabi said.
He said the value of the property destroyed would be determined after a detailed assessment of the damage.
Mr Chilabi urged traders, particularly those operating from temporary structures, to exercise extreme caution when using braziers and other sources of fire.
He further advised traders to ensure that all sources of fire were completely extinguished before leaving their trading areas.
The Zambia Police Service has urged members of the public to remain calm as investigations into the incident continue.