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Mkoba Clinic kitchen razed by fire

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Mkoba 1 Clinic in Gweru was partially gutted by fire on Monday, raising concern about the safety of many of the council’s wooden structures at key infrastructure, Southern Eye has established.

Mkoba 1 Clinic in Gweru was partially gutted by fire on Monday, raising concern about the safety of many of the council’s wooden structures at key infrastructure, Southern Eye has established.

BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

In May, then ward 9 councillor, Gibson Fundira, ordered the local authority to pull down wooden structures at the clinic, mainly used for treatment of HIV+ patients, counselling and records storage which he described as a death trap for both the workers and patients.

“What I have discovered is that the roofs of the wooden structures are leaky and come into contact with electrical wires, causing the possibility of fire outbreaks. In fact, I once visited the clinic and the nurses there said they feared for their lives and safety, hence the need for urgent maintenance of the structures,” Fundira said then.

Council spokesperson Manford Gambiza confirmed that one of the wooden structures had been razed by fire, which he said was being investigated by the police.

“The incident occurred last night at Mkoba 1 Clinic where a cabin was razed to the ground, destroying a gas stove, table and chairs. The cabin was used as a staff kitchen,” Gambiza said.

“At the moment, we have no idea what caused the fire, but police are carrying out investigations.”

He, however, said the clinic was not affected.

Reports indicate that when the fire brigade attended the scene, the structure had already been destroyed although they managed to put out the fire.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende did not respond to questions sent to her yesterday.