Fire destroys USD2.5mln worth of Cotton

Harare(New Ziana) – The Cotton company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) on Monday said it lost at least 1.2 million kg of cotton lint worth an estimated US$2.5m in a fire at a ginning site in Chipinge.
Cottco managing director Pius Manamike said the cotton was ready for export.
“The Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Limited (Cottco) wishes to advise its stakeholders that at one of its toll ginning sites at Checheche growth point in Chipinge South, a fire broke out in the early hours of Monday.
“Preliminary assessment indicate that the company has lost about 1 221 000kg of cotton lint that was ready for export with an estimated value of US$2 500 000. A forklift was also lost in the inferno,” he said.
Manamike said the fire was detected by a truck driver near the ginnery who immediately alerted the guards and management.
” Fire tenders from Green Fuels and Hippo Valley were called in to assist extinguish the fire. The fire fighting operation was hampered by strong winds that were being experienced in the area at that time,” he said.
Manamike said the cause of the fire has not been established.
“The fire is still raging on as fire fighters continue with their efforts to completely extinguish the fire, ” he said.
This year, Zimbabwe projects cotton production at 150 million kg, nearly double 2020 output.
New Ziana