A family of five at Ngo Village in the Kongola Constituency of the Zambezi Region has lost its home, household belongings and identity documents in a fire.

The fire broke out while Melody Sinyemba was away fetching water, leaving her three children at home. 

She says she became alarmed when she saw smoke rising from the direction of her house.

"I had gone to fetch water. It is quite a distance from here to where we fetch water. When I arrived closer to the water point, I saw flames in the direction of my house. My heart started racing, and when I returned, I found my house engulfed in flames."

The children's father, Gilbert Liwanga, who works as a cattle herder, says he is struggling to come to terms with the loss of everything the family had worked to acquire.

"I have lost a lot in this home. I had televisions, a solar system, an inverter, a generator, a radio and our beds. They have all burnt. As I stand here, my heart is broken. I do not know how I will replace everything I have lost."

Ngo Village Induna Justice Pangala has appealed for assistance on behalf of the family, saying their limited income will make it difficult to recover from the loss.

"The couple was really struggling to make ends meet. The lady does piece jobs, and the man has been working for me since 2014. He survives on the little I pay him for herding cattle, and there is not enough time for extra work. They will really struggle to get back on their feet. I am therefore appealing for assistance from the government, however small. They will appreciate it, and we will also help where we can."

Kongola Constituency Councillor Bennetty Busihu says he has visited the family and is awaiting an assessment report before approaching the Zambezi Regional Council for assistance.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.