Chronicle Editor
Johnsias Mutonhori, [email protected]
THE recent fire that reduced the St. Theresa Nursing School in Mberengwa to ashes, leaving students and tutors stranded is a wake-up call on the need to strengthen disaster response efficiency at local authority level.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said this yesterday while donating maize to the institution following the fire incident and loss of property.
The inferno engulfed the nursing school, destroyed valuable property, including laptops, furniture, stoves, utensils, refrigerators, beds, solar panels, and library books. As a result, lessons at the institution have been temporarily suspended.
In his remarks, Minister Ncube said such destruction could be alleviated if disaster response systems were enhanced and reiterated Government’s ongoing efforts to acquire and distribute fire tenders across the country to capacitate local authorities.
He also said Government was committed to modernizing infrastructure and transforming livelihoods across the country.
“The St Theresa fire incident is a wake-up call for us all. It’s no longer business as usual as we seek to attain an upper middle-income economy earlier than 2030.
“I urge the Civil Protection Committees to strengthen their disaster response mechanisms,” said Minister Ncube.
This year, the Government has commissioned fire tenders in Gweru, Zvishavane, and Shurugwi in the Midlands province using devolution funds to enhance the province’s capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to fire incidents.
Additionally, 18 air search and rescue ambulances have been secured from Russia, along with 133 fire tenders from Belarus, as part of strategic measures to mitigate disasters in communities.
Minister Ncube said, most local authorities are still operating below expectations in terms of service delivery while challenging town councils to make an effort to meet their obligation.
“I have embarked on a tour of all local authorities to monitor their level of service delivery, which is not yet satisfactory,” he said.
“My message has been that of no compromise to service delivery as there is a lot, which local authorities can do to provide tangible, quality, and affordable services using their revenue without necessarily waiting for central Government intervention.”
As an emergency relief measure, Minister Ncube donated maize to St. Theresa Nursing School and called upon well-wishers across the province to extend their support to the cause.
“Given the magnitude of the disaster that struck St Theresa, I wish to appeal for more assistance to build back our nursing school, which contributes immensely to the human capital development of the Midlands Province and the nation at large,” he said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the 2024/25 agriculture season is not promising following the El Nino-induced recent dry spells. However, no one will die of hunger as the country has enough grain in its strategic grain reserve and importation of basic foodstuffs has been relaxed.”
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