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Daniel Nemukuyu-Investigations Editor

BRAIN drain and lack of resources have left Harare City Council’s fire department in intensive care amid reports that over 125 fire fighters have this year left for oil companies in the Middle East while the department now runs with one fully-functional fire engine.

Forty more fighters are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia soon, creating an acute shortage of manpower for the ailing department.

The local authority has been reduced to a mere training ground for fire fighters, who leave for the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries after an intensive and world-class training exercise.

After the departure of the teams, council goes back to the drawing board.

A depleted fleet of over 10 faulty fire engines is parked at council’s Belvedere yard and reliable sources say only one, registration number AAE 8946, is fully-functional and is attending to most fire incidents in the capital.

The unavailability of fire fighting kits for the fighters and fire engines has rendered most employees technically redundant, as they end up being assigned to do general cleaning and weeding of flowers at the workplace.

Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme confirmed the mass exodus of the fire fighters saying it was crippling the department’s operations.

“I can confirm that we have lost over 100 employees in that department and it is largely because of low salaries.

“The brain and skills drain is affecting capacity,” he said.

On the issue of the depleted fleet in the fire section, Mr Chideme said council had not purchased new fire engines for years.

He said the local authority heavily relied on foreign donations.

“We haven’t purchased fire engines in a long time and we rely on donations. As we speak, we are waiting for a donation of four fire engines from Operation Florian.

“Two have already been shipped while the others will be sent later,” said Mr Chideme.

Those who are still at work are frustrated and they have vowed to leave once an opportunity arises.

“Our salaries are too low compared to our colleagues in other countries. We do not get the little salaries in time and above all, we do not have adequate equipment to use.

“I feel underutilised here. As you can see, I am holding this broom, cleaning the yard despite being a trained fire fighter.

“We spent time weeding and doing other cleaning duties as if we are not trained. That is so frustrating and if an opportunity comes my way, I will grab it.

“Some 40 others have given notice to leave for Saudi Arabia before year-end and that will create a shortage for the department,” said an employee in the fire section.

A fire fighter who also preferred anonymity said the department does not have fire engines and the staff do not have adequate kits.

“We do not have the fire fighting regalia. We share the few available regalia that is kept under lock and key. It only comes out to the few who would have been tasked to attend a fire scene.

“Each one of us should have his or her own complete uniform and equipment to use. When a fire incident occurs, a team that fits in the only running fire engine is given the shared regalia, which is surrendered on return for use by others.

“We leave our hoes and brooms and rush to attend fire incidents,” said the employee.

Research by The Herald shows that most of the fire fighters leaving for the Middle East were getting salaries ranging from US$1 800 to US$2 500 per month plus allowances.

They get a loan of up to US$20 000 upon recruitment, which they use to upgrade their lives.

Companies in need of fire fighters, use Zimbabweans who are already working for them to come and fish more staff from the Harare City Council pond.

Recently, some 15 ex-council fire fighters who are now based in Saudi Arabia were in Zimbabwe where they conducted interviews and recruited at least 40 council employees who are expected to leave soon.

Meanwhile, Harare City Council’s emergency services has an acute shortage of ambulances with employees saying only two were fully functional.

Sources told The Herald that relied on two vehicles, one of which, only does the work during the day because of lighting challenges.

According to sources in the council’s workshop, a Ford Ranger registration number GHCC 1583 (white), was one of the ambulances servicing the city but it has lighting challenges.

“At night, the Ford Ranger in question cannot be used because of poor lighting. Most of the ambulances and fire tenders here, are unroadworthy and if the Vehicle Inspectorate Department is to check on their roadworthiness, none will pass the test,” said the source.

In a recent tweet, council indicated the procurement of 10 more ambulances was underway.

“A tender for 10 ambulances is at an advanced stage. Council to receive two fire tenders soon. 

“They are a donation from Operation Florian. Two more to be shipped,” reads the tweet.