Fire destroys building at Bulawayo's Lalani Lodge

A major fire swept through Lalani Lodge in Bulawayo on Friday night, destroying a double-storey thatched building and prompting an emergency response from the city's fire department.

Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have sparked the blaze.

According to Mr Moyo, an alarm was triggered earlier in the evening, prompting a response from a private security company.

"An alarm went off and members of a security company went there and checked, but they did not find anything. However, at around 12.30am we received a call reporting a fire," he said.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and managed to contain the flames before they spread to other structures within the lodge premises.

"We managed to save the other buildings, but the one with the thatched roof was razed down," said Mr Moyo.

The destroyed structure was a double-storey building with a thatched roof, which is believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire once it ignited.

Authorities said no injuries or fatalities were reported during the incident.

Mr Moyo said a comprehensive report would be issued once investigations into the exact cause of the fire have been completed.

The extent of the financial losses has not yet been determined.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of thatched structures to fire, particularly where electrical faults are suspected, although officials stressed that the cause remains under investigation.

More details are expected to emerge as investigations continue.