Fire destroys High Court guardroom

A guardroom located at the main entrance of the High Court in Harare was destroyed by fire Wednesday night.

However, no important documents were destroyed.

Preliminary investigations have pointed to carelessness on the part of security officers guarding the building.

The fire was allegedly started by a heater that was left unattended.

The heater is said to have burnt a carpet that had been left to dry before the fire spread destroying the guardroom.

When reporters visited the High Court Thursday morning there was confusion as people were being booked just outside the building.

A temporary record book was being used as all the record books for booking visitors had been destroyed by the fire while staffers had difficulties in identifying their burnt keys.

Registrar of the Supreme Court Munamato Mutevedzi confirmed that no important documents were destroyed.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba ruled out any suspicion of foul play.

The fire broke out just before midnight, Wednesday night, but was controlled before spreading to the main building where important documents are kept.