Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council will spend over US$90 000 in shipping, airfare and accommodation, among other financial costs in hosting a United Kingdom firefighting team.
The team visits the city annually as part of the Operation Florian initiative where they donate various firefighting equipment and train the city’s firefighters in modern firefighting drills. The initiative has over the years seen the local authority also inviting other fellow firefighters in the country. This has also seen the city having arguably the best firefighting crew in the country.
However, according to the latest council report it has since emerged that this year the local authority will part with US$93 049 in catering for all the costs regarding the hosting of the team.
“The same arrangements would apply for the project team as with previous phases. Bulawayo City Council and Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Brigades would provide all flights from the UK to Bulawayo, including internal flights. Transport, accommodation and food would be provided in Bulawayo.
Bulawayo City Council would pay the cost of shipping a container of equipment from the UK and also pay the costs of equipment purchased in the UK for the training course.
“Once the funds are received the collection of equipment and shipment can take place. A receipt will be forwarded to Bulawayo City Council when the funds are confirmed in the charities account. All funds will be accounted for and a report sent when shipping occurs. To complete the activities in 2019, the project funds need to be with Operation Florian ideally by 20 February 2019. It must be remembered that there may be tax and VAT to be added, although it does not usually apply to export,” reads part of a letter from the Operation Florian team.
This year the equipment to be donated will be a fire truck, firefighting equipment that will include Air Rescue Equipment, Hydraulic Rescue Equipment, generators, First Aid and Firefighting equipment, fire service uniforms and communication and IT equipment.
According to the report the charity has already shipped at no cost to council, a container of fire-fighting and rescue equipment which left the UK on 14 December 2018. Council will, however, foot the cost of clearing the container.
“Since 2012, students from the University of Central Lancashire have been part of the training team. Mr Shephard Ndlovu, the Operation Florian Advisor on the organisation’s Mission in Zimbabwe is a senior lecturer with the institution.
The university bears the costs of the students’ participation upon request.
In the breakdown of the costs to be paid by the local authority shipping and related costs will be pegged at US$34 949, airfares; US$21 600, accommodation; $11 700, Meals; lunch US$2 700, dinner; US$2 700, tours plus souvenirs US$2 000, handover ceremony; US$5 000, meals and related costs for students US$3 400, freight consultants and Manica Depot; US$4 000 and collection and clearing of vehicles; US$5 000, this brings the grand total to US$93 049.
“The relationship that council enjoys with Operation Florian has been very rewarding. It has seen council getting fire tenders, fire-firefighting equipment and gear that it would not have afforded in the current economic environment.
Over and above that, modern fire-firefighting techniques have been imparted to council staffers in the training sessions that Operation Florian undertakes.
To date this has totaled over 32 000 student hours. Service delivery in emergency services has indeed improved as a result of this relationship,” reads the report.
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