BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III has warned all Emaswati aginst the habit of starting wild fires, as this has a potential of destroying civil lives and properties.
The king said this today (Friday, October 11, 2024) at Matsapha International Airport during the first ever Eswatini National Fire Day. The king called upon Emaswati to take care of structures, land, wild life and forests by making sure that they were not burned.
He warned that the burning of properties started in ways that could be hard to notice. “It all starts with one small reckless act which may leave an entire family, community, company and even the country, suffering irreparable loss,” he said.
According to the king, the problems seen in the world of climate change are a direct or indirect consequence of wild and uncontrollable fires devastating large areas in some parts of the globe. He said the continued acts of responsibility from the nation would help the fire department and the country to make the fight against fires attainable.
“It has been a great moment to witness the wonderful displays and drills by the fire recruits on your inaugural day. We do look forward to the growth and improvement of your skills and displays in the coming years. We wish to thank everyone who has been involved in the preparation of this event and making it the remarkable success it has been. We also wish to thank all the gifts that have been presented to us,” the king said.
The king said the importance of having the ENFES in the country could not be underscored, especially because they provided an essential service. “A few years ago, we witnessed a huge loss of building structures, environment as well as human lives, which underpins the importance of the role you play in such times,” the king said.
Therefore, the fire department has the mammoth task of providing emergency services to these unfortunate situations in the country, according to the king. “The existence of this department adds value to our economic drive as investors have confidence in their business safety and security,” he said.
