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Midlands Correspondent
A total of 21 vehicles, including three commuter omnibuses were reduced to shells in Gweru when a veld fire spread to the garage where the cars were parked.The incident, which occurred on Monday in Gweru’s light industrial area exposed the city’s fire fighting department’s lack of preparedness as it emerged that the city was operating without fire tenders.
Gweru City Council’s chief fire officer Mr Emmanuel Musemwa, confirmed the fire incident and that his department lacked resources to handle fires.
He also said most of the destroyed vehicles, save for four cars, were runners which had been brought in four routine service and repairs.
Mr Musemwa said the city fire department had to ask for a fire tender from Thornhill Airbase to try and put out the fire. “When we called Thornhill Airbase asking for a fire tender, they had no fuel.
We rushed there with 50 litres of fuel. When we finally visited the fire scene, we could not get water at the nearby hydrant as it was dry,” he said.
Mr Musemwa said the City Fire Brigade was not in a position to respond to emergencies such as road accidents and fires.
He said the city was sitting on a time bomb.
Mr Musemwa said the challenge was being worsened by the city’s perennial water challenges caused by fast dwindling water levels at the major supply dam, Gwenoro.
“We have a serious problem to do with fire tenders. At the moment all our fire tenders are grounded. In the event of a major fire outbreak, we rely on the police and Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Thornhill Airbase fire tenders,” he said.
Mr Musemwa said Gweru needed six fire tenders but has been operating with only two. The two, he said, have since broken down.
“Under normal circumstances, the City of Gweru needs six fire tenders, two at our main offices in the city centre, one in Senga and three in Mkoba but at the moment we have nothing,” he said.
Mr Musemwa appealed to the corporate world to assist the Council acquire fire tenders. Town Clerk, Mr Daniel Matawu, said council was trying to raise money to buy at least three fire tenders.
“The situation with regards to fire tenders is very critical. We have tried to repair our old ones but these continue to experience mechanical faults. We are in the process of trying to raise money to buy at least three second hand fire tenders. We can’t afford brand new fire tenders due to financial constraints,” he said.
Online Reporter