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A fire destroyed approximately 20 makeshift trading structures at Kamwala Trading Area in Lusaka on the night of August 18, 2026.
The incident occurred behind Downtown Shopping Mall along the railway line at around 20:40 hours, according to the Zambia Police Service Spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Chilabi said Kabwata Police Station received a report of the fire and immediately dispatched officers to the scene and upon arrival, officers found several makeshift structures that had already been gutted by the fire.
“Personnel from the Lusaka City Council Fire Brigade also responded and managed to bring the fire under control,” he said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have originated from a brazier that was reportedly left burning at a makeshift restaurant.
An inquiry file has since been opened as authorities seek to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigations are ongoing.
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Chilabi confirmed that no casualties were recorded from the fire. However, the full extent of the damage and the value of property destroyed have not yet been determined.
Chilabi said a detailed assessment would be conducted to establish the losses.
“The Zambia Police Service urges members of the public, particularly traders operating from temporary structures, to exercise extreme caution when using braziers and other sources of fire,” he stated.
Chilabi advised traders to ensure all fire sources were properly put out before leaving their trading areas, noting that unattended braziers posed a serious risk in densely populated trading spaces.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm as investigations continue,” he said.
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