Ongwediva Minimarket destroyed by fire

THE Ongwediva Minimarket was destroyed by a fire that started just before opening time on Monday.

The cause of the fire was still not known, Ali Dharani told The Namibian yesterday.He said the Oshana Police told him that they had called forensic investigators from Windhoek to help investigate the fire.He said the loss of the building and its stock amounted to between N$5 million and N$7 million.Dharani said a security guard saw smoke inside the shop and called him. Immediately afterwards, the whole shop was on fire. The town council’s fire brigade is situated just metres from the shop, and firefighters from Oshakati also assisted, but they could not bring the fire under control.Some residents complained about the effectiveness of the local fire brigade and said they should be better trained and equipped.This was the second big fire in the North in the past two weeks.The Namundjebo Traditional Lodge at Olunghono near Oshikango was also completely destroyed by fire on October 4. The owner, George Namundjebo, estimated the damage at N$18 million.