By Thokozani Mazibuko
Several shops at Bhunu Mall in Manzini have resumed business operations following the devastating fire that ravaged the second floor of the building.
While the aftermath of the blaze brought about challenges and setbacks for tenants and business owners, the community’s spirit of solidarity and support has fueled efforts to rebuild and move forward in the face of adversity.
Shoprite Supermarket, Clicks, Truworths, Woolworths, Jet, Miladys, Total Sports and Nandos were in operation when the Eswatini Daily News arrived today in Manzini.
The fire, which caused widespread damage on the third floor of Bhunu Mall, created a sense of urgency for affected shops to mitigate losses, refurbish their spaces, and reopen for business.
The owners of the Bhunu Mall establishment and the Manzini Municipality had
As Bhunu Mall embarks on the road to recovery, post-fire restoration efforts are underway, with renovations at the mall entrance three.
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The ongoing works aim to enhance the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the building, providing a fresh and welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers, and tenants as they return to the mall.
Business must come to standstill on Monday morning after a mysterious fire damaged about 15 offices on the second floor of Bhunu Mall, leaving over 30 people jobless.
The cause of the fire is still unknown as investigations continue.
Most retail outlets on the first floor of the building were closed yesterday while the police and technical teams conducted investigations following a fire at the Bhunu Mall.
Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) when talking to the Media mentioned that they received information about the fire from the public on Sunday night.
She appreciated the nation for its vigilance and whistleblowing abilities while encouraging members of the members of the public to continue working cooperatively with the law enforcement agency.
She said the police responded promptly to the call and alongside the Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services, they made sure that the fire was contained, and property was preserved.
During the interview, she pointed out that they have since launched extensive investigations to ascertain the cause of the mysterious fire.
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“For now, what we have gathered was that there was no foreign object found within the building, suggesting that the fire might have been caused by an external source but instead, it seems the fire started from within the mall.
We urge the public to be at ease and not be overwhelmed by unrealistic insinuations, given that we all know that as a country we are fresh from the political unrest,
which left many dumbfounded in different ways and as such, people might be under the impression that the fire came as a result of an arson attack, yet it did not,” she told the Media.