Back home with impact Collen Munikwa bridges UK expertise and Bulawayo firefighting excellence

GROWING up in the high-density suburb of Luveve, Collen Munikwa never imagined that one day he would be part of an elite team credited with strengthening the reputation and operational standing of the Bulawayo Fire Brigade.

Widely regarded as the leading fire brigade in Zimbabwe and among the most accomplished in Southern Africa, the Bulawayo Fire Brigade has, over the years, established itself as a centre of excellence in fire-fighting and emergency response.

Its firefighters are increasingly in demand globally, including in countries such as Australia and across the Middle East, while several local authorities continue to seek training for their personnel from the Bulawayo-based unit.

A key factor behind the brigade’s success is its long-standing partnership with Operation Florian, a United Kingdom-based fire-fighting charity.

The organisation began working with the Bulawayo Fire Brigade in 2011 and has since facilitated the donation of critical resources, including an ambulance, fire engines and specialised equipment, as part of the collaboration.

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Operation Florian training programme has trained more than 800 firefighters, with participants drawn not only from Zimbabwe but also from neighbouring countries such as Zambia and Botswana.

Born and raised in Bulawayo, Munikwa expressed pride at returning home through his involvement with Operation Florian. He is no stranger to the Bulawayo Fire Brigade, having previously served within its ranks for a decade.

Now 57, Munikwa was born at Mpilo Central Hospital in 1969 and attended Luveve Primary School before continuing his education in the city.

“I grew up running in the streets of Luveve and did my A Level at Hamilton High School before joining the Bulawayo Fire Brigade. I worked as a fire fighter for about 10 years then left for the United Kingdom where I studied Software Engineering at the University of Coventry,” he told the Chronicle on the sidelines of the recent Operation Florian 13th pass-out parade held at Famona Fire Station.

Munikwa joined the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service while living in the United Kingdom, an opportunity that arose unexpectedly during a public exhibition in Liverpool.

Having spent more than a decade responding to fires and emergencies, the sight of fire engines and equipment on display rekindled memories of risk-filled rescues and life-saving missions.

“The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was displaying its fire engines and fire-fighting equipment at a public exhibition show and my curiosity got the better of me,” he said.

“I went to stand to look around and ask a few questions and they told me that the fire and emergency services department was hiring fire fighters.

“I was given a form to fill but somehow it took me several days to do it as I kept thinking that the chances of being recruited were very slim. I filled in the form and submitted it on the last day. To my pleasant surprise I made the grade,” he said.

He described his career within one of the United Kingdom’s largest emergency services departments as a demanding but rewarding journey.

“For the longest time I was the only black fire fighter in the whole fire department but that didn’t stop me from executing my duties with distinction. Bulawayo Fire Brigade uses the British fire-fighting manual.

So, my 10 years of working in the emergency services in this city counted in my favour,” he said.
Munikwa said working within a modern emergency services environment broadened his perspective, particularly in relation to the constant introduction of new technology and evolving operational techniques.

“After joining the fire I went through rigorous training but because I was well-versed with the fire-fighting manuals that were written by the British, which I studied religiously while working in Bulawayo, I applied everything that I knew in my new job,” he added.

Although Munikwa joined Operation Florian three years after its formation, he was initially unable to travel to Zimbabwe to assist with training and equipment donations due to work commitments.

“When a new fire chief joined the team he allowed me to take off days and join the Operation Florian team travelling to Bulawayo and I have never looked back since then,” he said.

Asked to highlight differences between the Bulawayo Fire Brigade and the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Munikwa pointed to the role of innovation and technology.

“That side there are a lot experiments and new technologies that are tested to improve their fire-fighting capabilities. That technology will obviously take to time to get to Bulawayo so I believe that the technological gap between the departments is what sets them apart,” he said.

Speaking at the pass-out parade, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart said the success of the partnership with Operation Florian was reflected in the international demand for firefighters trained in the city.

“The effectiveness of this training programme is evidenced by the global demand for Bulawayo trained fire-fighters. However, while we celebrate the upskilling of our team, we remain concerned by our inability to retain some of these highly skilled professionals. While the training was initially designed for the city of Bulawayo, its impact has since spread across the country. This year we had 18 local authorities participating in the programme” said Mayor Coltart.