Online Reporter
Taboka Tshuma, Sunday News Reporter
MWENEZI Rural District Council has acquired a state-of-the-art fire tender from its allocation of devolution funds from Belarus, as part of efforts to enhance its emergency response initiatives.
The newly acquired fire tender will serve multiple critical functions and is particularly important for the district, especially that, which follows along the accident-prone Beitbridge –Masvingo Highway, where there is high vehicular traffic concentration.
It will be used for extinguishing fires, performing rescues, managing disasters, providing first aid, supplying water as well as educating the community on fire safety practices.
In an interview, the RDC’s chief executive officer Mr Albert Chivanga said they were delighted with the development.
He said Mwenezi is a very big district with one side of it along the Harare to Beitbridge Highway where there are a lot of accidents that have taken place, with many people having lost their lives while some were burnt beyond recognition because there was no fire tender to help rescue operations and putting out the accident fires.
“It is this background that saw us considering purchasing the fire tender. We hope that with this development, we are going to be of assistance in rescue operations in and around our district. We have infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and public offices that require the services of this important equipment when fires break out. This fire tender is going to create employment and opportunities for youngsters since it will be operated by more than twelve people, having shifts,” he said.
Mr Chivanga emphasised the importance of the development stating that it represents a substantial step towards safeguarding lives and property within the community.
“This fire tender will not only serve to put out fires, but will also play a crucial role in disaster management and community education. Our goal is to ensure that we are prepared for emergencies and can respond swiftly to all forms of emergencies in our area of jurisdiction,” he said.
To guarantee the successful operation of the fire tender, the council plans to provide extensive training for the team responsible for its use.
He said the teams will be trained either in Bulawayo or Harare and those who would have passed, will be employed.
“This training will encompass disaster management techniques, first aid skills and the effective operation of fire fighting equipment. The team that will operate the fire tender will be trained in Bulawayo or Harare for six months with the assistance of technical people from Belarus and those that would have passed will be employed.”
In addition to enhancing emergency response, Mr Chivanga also highlighted that the council is committed to engaging the community with fire safety education initiatives.
“Plans are in place for workshops, outreach programmes in schools, business centres and community drills designed to foster awareness, among residents,” he said.
“By involving the community in fire safety education, we aim to create a culture of prevention that empowers individuals to protect themselves and their neighbours,” Mr Chivanga said.
To ensure the fire tender remains in good condition, the council will implement a regular maintenance schedule overseen by a dedicated team.
This proactive approach will guarantee that the fire tender is always ready for action when emergencies arise.
“We are committed to ensuring that the fire tender is always in shape and ready for use whenever there are emergencies,” he added.
The acquisition of the fire tender marks a pivotal moment for Mwenezi and Mr Chivanga also expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for capacitating local authorities through the disbursement of devolution funds.
