Government has pledged assistance to traders affected by the inferno that gutted Kapalala Market at Main Masala in Ndola on Saturday night, September 6, 2025, leaving one person dead and property worth thousands of kwacha destroyed.
Vice President Mutale Nalumango, who visited the scene, disclosed that each listed trader will receive a bag of mealie meal, cooking oil, beans, and a one-time payment of K1,000 to help them recover from the devastating loss.
Mrs. Nalumango expressed sadness over the recurring fire outbreaks at Kapalala Market, saying they continue to leave traders in distress and struggling to rebuild their lives.
The Vice President, however, cautioned against imposters who may attempt to benefit from the relief package despite not being affected by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, traders have received the compensation announcement with mixed feelings, some welcomed the support as timely, others argued that the relief package does not match the scale of their losses, particularly for grain traders and depot owners who lost large stocks of produce.
The Saturday blaze, which started near the Cairol section of the market, was the third fire to hit Kapalala Market in recent years, raising fresh concerns about fire safety in Ndola’s largest trading hub.
By Lovemore Sondashi
