A FIRE razed a dormitory at David Livingstone Secondary School outside Bulawayo on Monday, destroying everything in its path, officials said.
The dormitory – used by 52 Form 1 girls – contained their uniforms, books, beds and other personal items.
All pupils were successfully evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Mnqobizwe Mthimkhulu, the Southern Region Coordinator of Presbyterian Schools, said the fire – which was first reported shortly after 2PM, appeared to have been caused by an electric power surge.
The fire, he said, started moments after the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) restored power to the church-run school following load shedding.
Mthimkhulu said: “The Bulawayo Fire Brigade responded early and stopped the fire from spreading to other buildings. Without them I don’t know what could have happened.”
Bulawayo's chief fire officer Richard Peterson said they were called to the school, about 40km outside Bulawayo near Ntabazinduna, at 2.30PM.
He advised schools to follow fire regulations and have fire extinguishers in place, so that they are able to control fires or minimise damage to property and human life.