BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III wants Government to add more fire stations in the country, in order to enable speedy response to life-threatening incidents by members of Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services (ENFES).
The king said this today (Friday, October 11, 2024) at Matsapha International Airport during the first ever Eswatini National Fire Day. The Fire Day will be coupled with a pass-out parade of fire officers who are 114 that are currently under training. Among the 114 are fire officers who will be deployed at Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA).
The king said in recent times, the nation had witnessed that although fire stations were spread throughout the kingdom, there was a need to reach out to all the country’s 59 constituencies in order to help our rural population.
“During Sibaya, the nation applauded the work of the fire department and indicated that there are still large areas that have not been covered such as Shiselweni and Northern Hhohho, where they have only one fire station. Government is encouraged to add more fire stations in order to bring the fire services closer to the people,” the king said.
He said the nation did not wish to hear that fire had destroyed an entire homestead because the facility was not available in the rural areas. The king noted that this year, Emaswati have witnessed many areas burnt by wildfires, including building structures, grazing areas (emadlelo) and forestry, which drove the country’s economy.
Although there are financial challenges, where Government cannot provide all the equipment required by the fire department, the king is happy that the country’s fire officers are well trained. “Government is assisting the department with equipment, upskilling human resources and increasing the human capital for the betterment of fighting the fires we have witnessed,” he said.
The king also commanded this department to work closely with other security organisations of the country, as they had the same mandate. “As we have seen, the fire department shares the same sentiments in the mandate of saving lives and property with the other imibutfo. We, therefore, implore this department, as an essential service, to work closely with our security forces to complement one another. We commend the cooperation where we have seen police working together with the fire teams when there are accidents on the road and other incidences,” he said.
