Matobo Rural District Council (RDC) has taken delivery of a new fire tender acquired by the Government of Zimbabwe from Belarus through the Devolution Fund, marking a significant boost to the district’s emergency response capacity.
The vehicle is part of the 133 firefighting trucks procured from Belarus under the Second Republic’s inclusive development programme, aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness across all districts.
Ward 19 Councillor Nqobizitha Ngwenya confirmed the development.
“This fire brigade was brought through the Devolution Fund that comes from government. It was brought in from Belarus and has been at Famona Fire Station for the past year while our firefighters were in training,” said Cllr Ngwenya.
“Bulawayo City Council handled the training, and our firefighters graduated last week. They are now ready, willing, and have the spirit to respond to any fire emergencies in the district.”
According to Cllr Ngwenya, the newly trained team comprises six young firefighters, two women and four men who were equipped with professional skills by experienced Bulawayo City Council instructors.
“They are very young and energetic, and we are confident they will provide excellent service to the community,” he said.
The councillor also revealed that Matobo RDC has made budgetary provisions for the maintenance of the fire truck in its 2026 budget, with each household contributing one dollar toward upkeep costs.
“In our proposed budget, each household will contribute a dollar for maintaining the fire truck,” he explained.
Cllr Ngwenya emphasized that the fire tender will serve the entire Matobo District, not just the town board, noting that it will be crucial in responding to the growing number of fire incidents, including those reportedly linked to the use of electric vehicles.
“We’ve had a few cases of house fires caused by e-cars. This truck will come in handy in containing such emergencies,” he added.
Local residents have welcomed the development, describing the fire tender as a long-awaited lifeline for rural communities that have struggled with fire disasters.
“For years, watching a thatch roof or a field catch fire felt like a death sentence. You would just watch it burn, hoping the wind wouldn’t spread it to your own property,” said Mbusi Mpofu, a farmer from ARDA Irrigation in Maphisa.
“Knowing we now have our own team to call is a weight off our shoulders. It’s not just a truck; it’s our peace of mind,” he said.
The proposed household levy has also received broad community support.
“One dollar? That’s a small price to pay for a service that could save our homes and livelihoods,” said Thandekile Ndlovu, a local resident.
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