FIRE fighters risk becoming irrelevant – Emerine Kabanshi

FIRE fighters risk becoming irrelevant if they continue failing to respond to fire and other accidents on time, Local Government and Housing Minister, Emerine Kabanshi has said.
Ms Kabanshi said failure to respond to fires on time compromised the reputation of the fire fighters and exposed their operations to public ridicule.
Speaking when she officiated at the 54/2013 pass-out parade of basic fire fighters at the National Fire Service Training School in Kabwe yesterday, Ms Kabanshi said timely response to emergencies was critical in the operations of fire men and women.
She said the Government would play its part in ensuring improved operations.
The minister said it was the policy of the Patriotic Front Government to bring pride to the fire fighters and the rescue services industry in general by building capacity through the provision of adequate and competent workers.
She said a motivated workforce equipped with modern equipment would deliver satisfactory results.
The ministry, she said, had for that purpose budgeted for construction of a modern National Fire Training Academy in Kabwe, and directed Kabwe Municipal Council to ensure the piece of land allocated for the project was not encroached upon.
She said the ministry was aware of the shortage of manpower in the rescue services industry and had recruited 399 employees throughout the country.
Speaking earlier, Kabwe Mayor Moses Mwansa thanked the Government for sending nine recently-recruited trainee fire fighters and for gazetting about 14 fire inspectors for Kabwe District.