Two shops and more than 25 makeshift stands have been destroyed in an early-morning fire at Chamboli Market in Kitwe.
Kitwe City Council and Mopani Copper Mines fire brigades rushed to the scene around 00:38 hours, where they found the blaze spreading through parts of the trading area.
The fire affected two shops inside the main market structure Shop CBSH 143, an electronics repair shop, and Shop CBSH 144, which housed a groundnut grinding business.
Outside the market, over 25 makeshift stands used for various trading activities were completely gutted.
Kitwe City Council Public Relations Manager Mwaka Nakweti said preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire.
She added that firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the blaze using two deliveries and four lengths of hose connected to onboard tanks.
Ms. Nakweti said assorted electronics, a groundnut grinding machine, bags of groundnuts, and various goods from the makeshift stands were lost, with the total value of the damaged property yet to be established.
Police officers from Wusakile Police Station, led by Kitwe Police Headquarters Deputy Officer Commanding Mr. Justine Mwiinga, were deployed to maintain order and assist with investigations.
