Fire burns MRA offices at Songwe Border

Arrivals and departures at Songwe Border came to a standstill when a building housing government agencies went up in flames today morning.
The fire, which reportedly started with sudden sparks from a computer server, exploded into view around 9.30am.

Hundreds of eye-witnesses, including public officers, clearing agents, villagers and travellers, summoned their energies to put out the fire and rescue the goods from fierce flames.
The tragedy struck a building which houses Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Department of Immigration, Malawi Police Services and public agencies.
However, eye witnesses named MRA warehouses as the worst hit, saying the security services’ compartments went almost unscathed.
By 11am, travellers and traders plying between Malawi and Tanzania were stranded as the customs, immigration and police offices were lying empty—with all computers, furniture and other vital goods thrown out of the block.
Songwe, which lies side by side with Kasumulu Border Post on Tanzania’s side, is a gateway to East Africa.
Sergeant Yusuf Shaibu, Immigration spokesperson at Songwe Border, described the damage as minimal as the rescuers saved vital goods on time.
The security forces were restocking their offices in readiness to resume service delivery when fire fighters arrived around 11am.
MRA in-charge Steve Pikani could not be reached when we phoned him to establish the cost of uncleared goods destroyed by the misfortune.