Govt spends K18m on fire tenders

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handover ceremony of ten fire engines
handover ceremony of ten fire engines
GOVERNMENT has so far spent K18.7 million in the procurement of fire tenders and emergency rescue equipment this year, Local Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi has said.

Ms Kabanshi has said her ministry had already paid for the delivery of seven more fire tenders at K10.1 million to be delivered in the country within three months after pre-shipment inspections were done and they would be distributed to Lusaka, Mufulira, Kabwe, Kasama, Solwezi, Kazungula and Nakonde councils.

Ms Kabanshi said this kind of commitment by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was an indication that the ruling party was focused with its policy to revamp the fire and rescue services throughout the country as it had almost stopped functioning due to the lack of support.

The minister was speaking yesterday at the handover of two fire tenders to Lusaka and Kitwe city councils said the two were part of four that her ministry procured from Albert Ziegler of Germany at a total cost of K6.3 million.

Ms Kabanshi, who was represented by her deputy John Kufuna said her ministry had also received 10 hydraulic emergency equipment which were procured at a total cost of K2.3 million and would be distributed to all the four city councils and some selected municipal councils to enhance their rescue operations particularly in road traffic accidents.

She said her ministry had awarded a contract to three companies for the construction of three sub-fire stations in Lusaka at a total cost of K8.7 million in order to improve on response to emergencies on time.

The minister urged the councils to budget for maintenance of fire and rescue equipments to prolong their life span.

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