News / National
Bulawayo begins training rural firefighters
07 May 2025 at 16:07hrs | Views
The City of Bulawayo's Fire and Ambulance Services Unit has commenced a firefighter training programme for Rural District Councils (RDCs) in the southern region of Zimbabwe, in a major step toward enhancing local disaster response capacity.
The training initiative, which began on Monday, includes 30 newly recruited firefighters from five rural councils: Tsholotsho, Kusile, Matobo, Insiza, and Hwange. Each RDC has seconded six trainees, including a total of six women among the recruits.
The move marks a significant milestone in decentralising emergency response services, particularly in rural areas that have historically depended on Bulawayo's fire department for assistance. In previous years, Bulawayo's emergency teams were often required to travel over 100 kilometres to respond to emergencies in neighbouring districts - a logistical strain that often delayed critical interventions.
By offering technical expertise and capacity-building support, the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services Unit is playing a central role in empowering rural councils to manage their own fire and emergency services more effectively.
"This programme is about building local capacity and reducing response times. It's no longer sustainable for Bulawayo to serve such a wide area. We are equipping our neighbours to stand on their own," said an official from the City of Bulawayo Fire Department.
The training programme is also aligned with broader government efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness across the country. As part of this push, the Government of Zimbabwe recently procured fire tenders for rural councils, ensuring that the trainees will have appropriate equipment once deployed.
Authorities believe the initiative will significantly improve the country's overall disaster management system, particularly in rural communities that are often the hardest hit by fires, floods, and road traffic accidents.
The training is expected to run for several weeks, during which participants will be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical firefighting skills. Upon completion, the newly trained firefighters will return to their respective RDCs, where they are expected to form the backbone of local emergency response teams.
The training initiative, which began on Monday, includes 30 newly recruited firefighters from five rural councils: Tsholotsho, Kusile, Matobo, Insiza, and Hwange. Each RDC has seconded six trainees, including a total of six women among the recruits.
The move marks a significant milestone in decentralising emergency response services, particularly in rural areas that have historically depended on Bulawayo's fire department for assistance. In previous years, Bulawayo's emergency teams were often required to travel over 100 kilometres to respond to emergencies in neighbouring districts - a logistical strain that often delayed critical interventions.
By offering technical expertise and capacity-building support, the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services Unit is playing a central role in empowering rural councils to manage their own fire and emergency services more effectively.
The training programme is also aligned with broader government efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness across the country. As part of this push, the Government of Zimbabwe recently procured fire tenders for rural councils, ensuring that the trainees will have appropriate equipment once deployed.
Authorities believe the initiative will significantly improve the country's overall disaster management system, particularly in rural communities that are often the hardest hit by fires, floods, and road traffic accidents.
The training is expected to run for several weeks, during which participants will be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical firefighting skills. Upon completion, the newly trained firefighters will return to their respective RDCs, where they are expected to form the backbone of local emergency response teams.
Source - byo24news
