Businesspersons at Malangalanga Spare-parts Market in Lilongwe on Sunday foiled a fire that would have destroyed their goods worth over K450 million ($818,181). They also nabbed a suspected arsonist.
Chairperson of the market, James Kajawo, who confirmed the incident, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that the fire was suspected to have been deliberately started by fellow businessperson who sells scrap metal.
Kajawo said the fire broke at around 10am and flames were spotted by security guards on duty at Malangalanga Admarc who quickly alerted the businesspersons available at the time.
“We rushed there and found a shop belonging to a fellow businesswoman had caught fire and we put it out,” explained Kajawo.
Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said police arrested Fasirani Alufandika, 45, of Katsabola Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere in Dedza in connection to the fire.
Of late, market fires have been the order of the day with Kasungu, Mzuzu, Mzimba and Lilongwe Area 18 markets being recent victims.
Public and commercial buildings have also been affected.
