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Clr Manyenyeni

Tafadzwa Ndlovu and Dorcas Jiri
Harare City Council yesterday received five fire tenders from the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe to boost the city’s emergency services and disaster containment.
Speaking at a handover ceremony, ICZ chairman Mr Elliot Chiweshenga said the fire fighting vehicles would help in saving lives during accidents or emergencies.

“A year ago during our stakeholder meeting it was established that the city had outdated firefighting equipment,” he said.

“We saw it fit that we donate this machinery to reduce loss of life and damage.”

Most of the city’s fire tenders have been grounded due to a combination of breakdowns and failure by the council to maintain the emergency services fleet because of a serious cash-flow crisis.

The city now has 12 fire tenders out of an initial fleet of 17.

Speaking at the same occasion, Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni hailed the ICZ for supporting the city’s fire and emergency services.

“Properties worth billions of dollars and human lives have been lost in fires and road traffic accidents in the past because there was no rescue equipment,” he said.

“This smart move is not your simple typical corporate social responsibility, but more of a corporate strategic responsibility investment.”

Clr Manyenyeni said public private partnerships were critical in enhancing the capacity of local authorities to improve service delivery.

He appealed to Government and the private sector for more ambulances to further improve the city’s emergency services.

The fire tenders will be used at Kuwadzana and Waterfalls fire stations which have gone for years without fire tenders.