Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), chief executive officer Douglas Munatsi, died early this morning an inferno that gutted his Harare flat while he was inside.
In a statement, Northfields Owners Association – the association that oversees the running of the block of flats at the corner of Fifth Street and Josiah Tongogara Avenue – said the fire was detected at 2:50AM, on Monday November 29 at a time when there was no electricity due to a cable fault.
The prominent banker is said to have cried for help with neighbouring flats occupants immediately calling the fire brigade.
“The occupant in C10 heard commotion and noise, and went to his balcony to investigate further. There, he heard from the occupant of C9 (Douglas Munatsi) that there was a fire and he asked to call the fire brigade. At 2:59AM, the fire brigade was called, and they arrived at 3:11 AM,” said the association chairman C Gardiner.
“They fought the blaze for two hours, and despite their efforts, they were unable to save the occupant of C9, who is believed to be Mr Douglas Munatsi.”
He continued: “Thanks must be given to the professionalism and endeavors of the City of Harare Fire Brigade. Without their intervention, is it very likely that more lives would have been lost and more property destroyed. The Association has engaged the services of a forensic fire investigator to assess the cause the of the fire.”
