Fire Guts Section of Buseko Market in Matero, Two Suspects Held Over Theft

A fire has destroyed property belonging to several traders at Buseko Market along Lumumba Road in Matero, Lusaka, with two suspects separately detained after allegedly being caught removing gaming machines from one of the affected shops during the incident.

The Zambia Police Service said the fire was first noticed between 21:30 and 22:30 hours on 30 August, with Matero Police Station receiving a report from members of the public around 00:30 hours on 31 August. According to preliminary information, the fire started in a shop on the eastern side of the market, in an open section where wooden poles and planks are sold, before spreading to an adjacent shop and other trading premises.

Preliminary investigations suggest a charcoal brazier, possibly left unattended, may have contributed to the outbreak, though police said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause. The full value of property destroyed, including planks, merchandise and other goods, has not yet been established, as some affected traders are still to report their losses; a detailed damage assessment will follow.

The fire was extinguished by personnel from the Lusaka City Council Fire Brigade, Zambia National Service, Zambia Air Force and TAZAMA. During the incident, two male suspects, aged 18 and 17 and both from the Matero area, were apprehended and detained on suspicion of theft, after allegedly being found at the scene removing three Bonanza gaming machines from one of the affected shops, which were recovered.

Personnel from the Defence and Security Wings have since been deployed to safeguard the market and prevent theft, vandalism and other criminal activity. Police urged traders operating in markets and other areas using charcoal braziers and other fire sources to exercise extreme caution, and to ensure all sources of fire are completely extinguished before leaving their premises. An inquiry file has been opened into both the cause of the fire and the circumstances of the alleged theft.