All staff at Simba Supermarket’s branch in GOICO Plaza, Musanze, walked out safely, and the shop’s property and merchandise remained intact after a fire swept through the commercial building on Saturday, October 10.
Teklay Teame, founder, chairman and CEO of Simba Supermarket, told Taarifa: “Everyone is safe.” He added: “Glory be to God. Our branch is fully saved.”
Simba, one of Rwanda’s largest retail chains, was among the biggest tenants in GOICO Plaza. Its branch was on the ground floor, while the fire spread through the upper floors of the five-storey building.
The fire started at around 3 p.m., according to accounts from the scene. It affected upper floors where tailors and second-hand clothing traders operated. The cause has not been confirmed, and authorities are still assessing the damage.
By press time, local government officials, representatives of the trade ministry, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, and Rwanda Defence Force commanders were at the scene assessing the situation.
The Ministry of Local Government said two people sustained minor injuries and 15 others were traumatised. The government pledged to support repairs to the market and help traders get back on their feet and resume business.
The losses reported by individual traders include merchandise worth Rwf18 million, according to one trader’s family, and Rwf12 million, another trader told Taarifa.
The overall damage is still being assessed.
GOICO Plaza is a major commercial centre in Musanze. The Northern Province Private Sector Federation chairperson has said more than 2,000 traders work there and the market receives about 12,000 visitors daily.
