Herald Reporter
THE Convergence Community Emergency Response Team (ConCERT) is stepping up its long-standing fire-safety training programme, with a special focus on domestic workers, housekeepers and gardeners as part of efforts to strengthen household preparedness and prevent avoidable fires.
ConCERT will conduct a Basic Fire Safety for Home training programme on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Wingate Golf Club along Alpes Road in Harare, targeting people who are often directly involved in day-to-day household activities.
The five-hour training session will run from 8.30am to 1.30pm, with participation pegged at US$20 per person.
The programme will be conducted in English and Shona and will cover practical aspects of household fire prevention and response, including electrical and geyser safety, LPG and kitchen safety, rubbish and garden-fire prevention, the use of fire extinguishers and evacuation procedures.
ConCERT, whose volunteers focus on providing pre-ambulance roadside assistance while professional emergency services are being mobilised, has over the years expanded its community training programmes to equip ordinary people with basic skills needed to respond appropriately during emergencies.
The organisation’s latest emphasis on domestic workers is intended to ensure that people who spend much of their working day in homes are equipped to identify potential fire hazards, take preventive measures and respond safely when emergencies occur.
ConCERT founder Mr Webster Jaricha said that fire safety starts with knowledge and preparedness.
“Domestic workers, housekeepers and gardeners are often at the centre of household activities, so it is important that they understand the risks around them and know what to do when an emergency occurs,” he said.
The training will address common household hazards, including electrical faults, geysers, cooking equipment, LPG appliances, burning of rubbish and garden waste, while also teaching participants when it is safe to use a fire extinguisher and when evacuation should take priority.
The programme comes as authorities and emergency responders continue to urge communities to strengthen fire-prevention measures, particularly during periods of heightened fire risk.
For ConCERT, the emphasis is not only on responding to emergencies after they occur, but on equipping communities with knowledge that can prevent incidents from escalating in the first place.
ConCERT Administrative Director Mrs Patricia Townsend said that their approach has always been that prevention and preparedness are just as important as the response itself.
“When people understand the risks in their environment, they are better positioned to prevent incidents and to act appropriately when something goes wrong,” she said.
The organisation has previously conducted first-aid and emergency-response training for members of the public, including drivers, office workers, security personnel, restaurant employees, bikers, gardeners and domestic workers.
Its community-response model is built around the principle that life-saving knowledge should not be confined to medical professionals or emergency personnel.
“We want to build communities where people do not simply wait for an ambulance or the fire brigade when an emergency happens. Proper training gives people the confidence to take the right first steps, protect themselves and others, and summon professional assistance without putting lives at further risk,” said Mr Jaricha.
The domestic fire-safety programme is also expected to reinforce the importance of evacuation planning, early reporting of fires and responsible handling of potentially hazardous materials.
Mrs Townsend said household members should understand that attempting to save property should never place their lives at unnecessary risk.
“A fire can grow from a small incident into a major emergency within a very short time. The first priority must always be human life. Knowing when to raise the alarm, evacuate and call for professional assistance can make a significant difference,” she said.
The training is being conducted under Convergence Health & Safety, whose motto is “Train | Prepare | Save Lives”, complementing ConCERT’s wider community emergency-response work.
Bookings for the October 24 programme are being taken via WhatsApp on +263 719 118 027, while the ConCERT EcoCash merchant number is 002715.
The organisation said the training is not limited to domestic workers, with households and institutions encouraged to invest in basic emergency preparedness.
“Every workplace and institution should have people who know basic first aid and fire safety. Emergencies do not give notice, and preparedness should therefore be part of everyday safety planning rather than something considered only after an incident,” said Mrs Townsend.
ConCERT is also reminding companies, schools, churches, community organisations and other institutions that training in first aid and fire safety is a vital component of emergency preparedness.
The organisation said institutions do not have to wait for an emergency to expose gaps in their preparedness, as ConCERT is available to provide practical training that can equip staff, volunteers and members of the public with essential skills to train, prepare and save lives.
