TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
HARARE – A building in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) collapsed yesterday, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. The incident occurred at the intersection of Chinhoyi Street and Bank Street, after some rains and wind.
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| Image: Online sources |
The collapse claimed the life of a young woman and injured six others.
Two of the injured are in critical condition and were rushed to the hospital, according to National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
“I can confirm that one person died when a building in the CBD collapsed,” he said.
“Six other people were injured. Two are in critical condition and have since been rushed to the hospital. We will release a full statement tomorrow (Sunday) after informing their next of kin.”
The building’s decrepit state, a result of decades of neglect, is suspected to have compromised its structural integrity, leading to the collapse.
This incident has drawn attention to the deteriorating state of many buildings in Harare and other major Zimbabwean cities.
Most of these structures, inherited from the colonial era, have seen little to no refurbishment since independence, posing serious risk of danger for public safety.
The collapse comes on the heels of a warning issued by the City of Harare to owners of CBD buildings, demanding compliance with city by-laws through repairs, refurbishments, or repainting.
Owners and occupants have been given a two-week deadline to comply or submit written representations to the director of works.
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