Fuel dealer dies in house fire

Karoi fuel dealer, Adam “Mafuta” Kaponda was burnt to death when fire broke out in his rented residence in Chikangwe last Friday.

Police have not yet confirmed the incident.

Reports from those present at the scene of the multiple tenant dwelling say that Kaponda was with two other people in a room which had stored petrol and diesel for resale when the fire broke out.

The other two escaped through the window and are reportedly in critical condition at Chinhoyi Provincial hospital.

Kaponda was rescued by people who had gathered when they noted the fire, but he could not be saved as he died on the way to the hospital.

"Kaponda was trapped inside the house. Unfortunately, he could not escape through the window due to his weight. We had to break the door to pull him out,” said one Robert Mudenga.

Efforts to put out the fire were futile and it reportedly spread to other rooms