A raging inferno tore through a luxury vehicle garage in Mutare this week, reducing 27 high-end cars including a brand-new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon to twisted metal in a blaze that has left owners, workers, and the entire community reeling from shock and grief.
The fire, which ripped through the garage along Riverside Drive, destroyed vehicles, engines, gearboxes, and spare parts worth thousands of dollars within minutes.
Witnesses described the scene as apocalyptic, with thick plumes of black smoke darkening the skyline as residents watched helplessly.
“It was like watching thousands of dollars burn before our eyes. The heat was unbearable. You could feel the pain in the air,” said a shaken resident, Nigel Muchinguri.
ALSO READ: Tourist Claims She Was R@ped by Cop While Handcuffed in Police Car
Garage owner Anesu Akim, still grappling with the loss, revealed that five of the destroyed vehicles were brand new and had just been dropped off for servicing.
“Some of the cars came from as far as Chiendambuya and Mutoko. Their owners trusted me, and now I have to explain that their cars were reduced to shells. This is something I am still struggling to accept,” he said.
According to The Manica Post, preliminary reports suggest that a litter-clearing operation by Mutare City Council employees sparked the fire.
Witnesses claim residents had warned workers against igniting a litter pile near dry grass, but their pleas were ignored. The blaze quickly spread, engulfing the garage fence and the vehicles inside.
While Mutare City Council Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka, expressed sympathy and praised the Fire Brigade’s response, Akim and witnesses insist that delayed fire tenders worsened the damage.
“I rushed to the Fire Brigade, but they took their time. If they had come earlier, more cars could have been saved,” Akim said.
Legal experts warn the disaster could trigger lawsuits against the local authority.
Lawyer Justin Fusire explained that the doctrine of vicarious liability could make the council accountable if the employee who started the fire was acting under official instructions.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has since weighed in, noting that Manicaland has already lost over 27,000 hectares of land to veld fires this year.
EMA provincial manager Rambwayi Mapako said the incident underscored the urgent need for fire prevention strategies and community preparedness.
Police confirmed the blaze but said no casualties were recorded. Acting provincial spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, urged the public to avoid starting uncontrolled fires.
As investigations continue, the smouldering ruins of the garage stand as a painful reminder of preventable disaster and a looming legal and financial battle over who must pay for the destruction.
