As the blame game following the death of Retired General Solomon Mujuru takes centre stage, Harare City Council has exonerated itself from accusations of failing to provide fire fighters on time.
Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda yesterday said he was saddened by the death of Mujuru with whom he watched the Zimbabwe-Bangladesh cricket match on Sunday and was sorry that the council failed to assist.
However, Masunda said there was nothing the council could have done because of the dilapidated infrastructure, pointing out what happened should be a lesson to local authorities.
Said Masunda: “The tragic circumstances under which Retired General Solomon Mujuru passed away should be a salutary and sobering lesson for all local, district and rural councils to address their woefully under-capitalised and ill-equipped fire brigades as a matter of extreme urgency.
“The mandate of the City Council’s Fire Brigade does not go beyond the boundaries of Greater Harare.
“However, I do concede our Fire Brigade has in the past assisted to put out fires in places well outside the city council’s jurisdiction for humanitarian reasons. I am very sorry that on this occasion our team was not able to assist.”
Masunda added Mujuru had a terrific sense of humour and joined him at the Zimbabwe-Bangladesh match together with Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Zimbabwe Cricket president Peter Chingoka.
