Eye witnesses told Zodiak Online that they saw smoke from the roof of the wholesale at around 11 o’clock in the morning.

With no firefighting engine at Luchenza Municipal Council, people struggled to put off the fire and fire fighters from Blantyre City Council, though late, came and assisted in putting off the fire but the damage had already been done.

Councilor Henderson Supuni said “it’s unfortunate for the whole municipality to have no firefighting engine; this is very dangerous," said Supuni.

The owner of the wholesale only identified as Mr. Chinangwa was not available to talk about the fire accident.