By Staff Reporter

Kwekwe City Council currently has no foam fire tender, a specialized vehicle used to extinguish fuel fires, a senior official has revealed.

Speaking during a recent budget consultation meeting, Director of Finance Dandira highlighted the urgent need for the fire-fighting vehicle, citing the growing number of fuel stations in the city.

“We still want to buy a foam fire tender so that we cater for the increasing fuel stations in the city. Currently, we do not have a foam fire tender to douse fuel-related fires, hence we need a fire-fighting vehicle specifically for that,” said Dandira.

She explained that the council aims to allocate funds for the vehicle in its 2025 budget.

As part of the city’s fire levy proposals, Dandira outlined the expected contributions: “On fire levy, we still want to buy a foam fire tender. High- and low-density areas are pegged at US$1, institutions at US$5, industry at US$16.70, and commerce at US$10.”

Dandira also emphasized the need for a command vehicle to lead emergency responses and improve disaster management.

“We need a command vehicle so that whenever there is an accident or fire, it can lead. Additionally, we need an ambulance specifically for the fire department,” she added.

Kwekwe has experienced a sharp increase in the number of fuel stations over the past year, underscoring the urgency for specialized equipment to manage potential fire hazards.

The council is proposing a standstill budget for 2025.