top of page
Search

15-Room Blagdon Farm Mansion Ravaged by Electrical Fire

  • Writer: Southerton Business Times
    Southerton Business Times
  • Sep 21, 2025
  • 3 min read

A man examines a damaged brick house with debris scattered around. The bright sunlight casts shadows, suggesting a somber aftermath.
A 15-room mansion at Blagdon Farm, Kadoma, was destroyed in a suspected electrical fire (image source)

A 15-room mansion at Blagdon Farm in Kadoma was extensively damaged on Thursday after a suspected electrical fault sparked a blaze that consumed everything inside, including thousands of dollars in cash earmarked for school fees, furniture, jewellery, and approved architectural drawings for the proposed Maranatha Christian University.

According to homeowner Dr Samuel Mudavanhu, the fire began shortly after power was restored following an earlier outage.

“We didn’t have power in the morning. Then electricity came back late afternoon. I think the surge caused a short in my basement generator room, which then ignited.”— Dr Samuel Mudavanhu, homeowner

The unoccupied house burned unchecked until neighbours called in the Kadoma Fire Brigade, but crews could not salvage any belongings.

“All the beds, linen, everything, was burnt. Everything was burnt.”— Dr Samuel Mudavanhu

Firefighters arrived within minutes of the gardener’s alarm but found flames too intense for interior work. Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera confirmed an investigation is underway but declined to speculate on the definitive cause.

Electrical Faults and Urban Fire Risks

Experts say electrical faults remain the top cause of urban blazes. The Zimbabwe National Fire and Emergency Services reported that short circuits accounted for 42 percent of house fires in 2024. In Kadoma alone, five residential fires linked to wiring failures were recorded this year, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of safety inspections.

Recurring grid problems have plagued Blagdon Farm.

“Three weeks ago, we had aluminium cables burning on the main line. We alerted ZESA but they only fixed it a month later. Now my house is burnt.”— Dr Samuel Mudavanhu

He criticized the power utility for slow response times and warned of further risks if underlying infrastructure issues are not addressed.

City regulations mandate annual renewal of fire-safety certificates and installation of approved suppression systems for heritage-style properties. Under the City of Kadoma Act (Section 44), non-compliant owners face fines up to ZW $50 000 or six months’ imprisonment. Pavage Investments, which holds the title, acknowledged lapses in their safety audits.

“We were upgrading the wiring, but contractors were delayed. We regret the lapse and will cooperate fully.”— Simon Tumbare, director, Pavage Investments

Kadoma’s mix of colonial-era estates and modern developments makes fire safety a growing concern. The mansion—built circa 1928 with wrought-iron balconies and stained-glass windows—was among the province’s most iconic residential landmarks. Heritage officers have now cordoned off the site pending structural assessments. Architect Helena Chimhanda warned:

“If this mansion can burn, no building is immune without regular maintenance and safety checks.”

Background

Kadoma, founded as a gold-mining hub in the 1890s, still hosts dozens of stone mansions once owned by mining magnates. Their upkeep demands significant investment, leading many proprietors to convert estates into guest lodges or offices. Maranatha Christian University had planned to repurpose the mansion as administrative offices—a project now delayed indefinitely due to the destruction of critical architectural plans.

Next Steps

Forensic teams from the Kadoma Fire Brigade and municipal engineers will deliver a joint report by 25 September, determining the fire’s origin and structural integrity of the ruins. Inspector Kohwera said police would update the public once findings are confirmed. Meanwhile, the Kadoma Municipality has scheduled an emergency workshop on 30 September to review fire-safety compliance across all registered heritage properties.

Residents and lawyers are also petitioning ZESA to accelerate grid upgrades and implement real-time cable monitoring.

“This tragedy highlights systemic failures. We need proactive maintenance, not just reactive repairs after a disaster strikes.”— Farai Chikozho, transport engineer

As Kadoma mourns the loss of a landmark, Dr Mudavanhu remains hopeful that lessons learned will prevent future calamities.

“I pray that no one else loses so much in one night.”— Dr Samuel Mudavanhu

References

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet
Add a rating
bottom of page