Several people are feared dead, and others injured, after a balcony collapsed in a rundown building in central Harare on Saturday afternoon.
The incident took place at the intersection of Chinhoyi and Bank Streets in Zimbabwe’s capital.
This incident emphasises the critical need to address the worsening condition of numerous buildings, which present significant safety hazards, not just in Harare but also in other major cities and towns.
Hopewell Chino’ono, a well-known filmmaker and journalist, attributed the collapse to the country’s struggling economy.
“The economic downturn in Zimbabwe has resulted in lower standards for urban buildings, fuelled by corrupt governance and incompetence,” Chino’ono stated on X.
Attempts to seek comments from the police and fire brigade were unsuccessful at the time of publication.