/ 24 August 1999

FIDDLING, WHILE ROME BURNS

FRUSTRATED firefighters and police are being probed for possible negligence after they were forced to watch as a runaway bush fire gutted 400 impounded vehicles at the Lobamba Police Station 20km south east of Swaziland’s capital, Mbabane, on Monday evening. The firefighters, who are based just 20m from the police station, were unable to do anything to combat the flames because their three fire engines were already out on call fighting other bush fires. Police have not yet placed a financial value on the damage but confirmed on Tuesday that 401 vehicles were destroyed in the blaze.