Marythar Kambinda

Katima Mulilo – A few months after the Shoprite complex burnt to ashes, the Ackermans store in Katima Mulilo caught fire in the early hours of yesterday, causing minor damage to the store. The clothing retail store, which is located at the old Pep Store building, has eight employees.

The branch manager, Salom Nghitotelwa, who was the first to arrive at the scene, stated that upon arrival at the store at around 07h30, he opened the door to the store and noticed there was smoke.

 He then informed his boss, who advised him to look around the store – and that is when he noticed the fire and stock on the floor and called the fire brigade.

Nghitotelwa further said “The storeroom is fine, the office is fine, the canteen is fine and the store itself. I think the fire started at the women’s department.”

Katima CEO Raphael Liswaniso stated that the town council’s fire brigade was quick to respond. 

“We found that the fire started from the air conditioners. The aircons burst but we had one side, which is not so significant; it’s just one side that burned. Our staff were quick to extinguish the fire. There is not much damage that has been caused and the building is safe. 

This building also has firewalls, so we have checked throughout. We are just doing further inspections and further monitoring. The entire building could have burned down if the firefighting department had not contained it,” said Liswaniso.

No further damage was caused to the other outlets, including Pep, Style, Dunns as well as Chinese shops housed in the same complex.