City of Harare has tripled its fire-fighting capacity in the past two months, with an increase in fire tender numbers from four to 12. This is good news to Harare residents who have been subjected to shoddy service from the City’s fire department in recent years.

The first fire tenders came on 29 September. Council commissioned three fire engines and fire equipment valued at $1.5 million, a donation made by UK-based humanitarian organisation Operation Florian. This instalment was coupled with the training of 40 local fire fighters by fire fighters seconded from the UK.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Mayor of Harare, Bernard Manyenyeni, said that “The impact of these fire engines will be tremendous in the city’s emergency preparedness position. Currently the service is relying on four fire engines… only 25% of our requirements.”

“In a few weeks from now we will again gather here to receive more fire fighting equipment (five fire tenders) bought for us by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ),” added the Mayor.

As per the Mayor’s word, the second batch of donated fire tenders was commissioned on 29 October, when ICZ handed over five fire tenders to the Mayor at the City’s main fire station.

“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. Now that Harare has 12 fire tenders all donated by our friends, we will be able to attend to fire and traffic emergencies,” said the Mayor.