Parliament approves measures to boost firefighting, rescue

Dar es Salaam. Parliamentarians yesterday passed a series of measures aimed at bolstering Tanzania’s firefighting and rescue capabilities. The five resolutions, tabled by Moshi Urban legislator Priscus Tarimo, focus on encouraging collaboration between local authorities and the Fire and Rescue Department.

They include the government’s need to table a bill in Parliament to enable local authorities to allocate funds in their budgets for purchasing vehicles and other rescue equipment and for the maintenance of firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment.

The other resolution is the introduction of a bill in Parliament to commence cooperation agreements through the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the Fire and Rescue Department to purchase firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment.

Other resolutions include the tabling of a bill to implement Community Social Responsibility (CSR) involving fire and rescue services from large strategic projects implemented in the country.

Furthermore, the resolutions include the tabling of a bill to establish procedures for the installation of fire hydrants in all water projects and the inking of the installation and maintenance of fire hydrant MoUs between water authorities and the Fire and Rescue Department.

The final resolution calls for the government to establish specific procedures for the facilitation of the annual recruitment of enough firefighters and rescuers to meet the current demands.

Moshi Urban lawmaker tabled the private motion aimed at providing the Fire and Rescue Department with pre-requisite support to complement government efforts in providing better firefighting and rescue services in the country.

“Insufficient firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment among local authorities largely contribute to increased damages resulting from fire accidents and other disasters due to the inefficiency of firefighting and rescue services,” said the MP when tabling the private motion.

Mr Tarimo said fire disasters and calamities cause adverse harm to citizens by damaging properties, causing temporary and permanent disabilities and health hazards, and sometimes leading to deaths, noting that the Fire and Rescue Department could not address the listed challenge due to limited resources.

The private motion requires municipal councils, cities, districts, wards, and villages with financial capabilities to strike agreements with the Fire and Rescue Department for purchasing firefighting vehicles, rescue equipment, and the installation of hydrants through existing and new water projects.

“Since some local authorities have budget capacity and the ability to collaborate with the Fire and Rescue Department in addressing the shortage and lack of firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment through local revenue sources, assistance from donors, friends, and development partners, or funds from the CSR executed by different stakeholders,” said Mr Tarimo.

Debating the motion, Korogwe Urban lawmaker, Dr Alfred Kimea, said shortage of staff, insufficient firefighting equipment, inadequate fire hydrants, shortage of administrative vehicles, arbitrary construction, and the absence of enough fire detectors were some of the challenges facing the Fire and Rescue Department.

“Despite these challenges, I’m against the decision to add new responsibilities to councils. However, capable councils, individuals, and institutions should procure vehicles and equipment to strengthen the Fire and Rescue Brigade’s responsibilities,” he said.

Mbogwe Constituency MP Nicodemas Maganga said heightened cooperation between councils and councillors with the Fire and Rescue Brigade was of paramount importance in meeting the growing demand for manpower due to the rapidly growing population.

Ms Felista Njau (Special Seats MP-Chadema) says capable councils should exclusively engage in the collaboration conditions due to the financial difficulties they are passing through.

Geita Urban legislator Constantine Kanyasu, CCM, said councils mostly grappling with revenue constraints shouldn’t be subjected to such a heavy burden involving escalating costs of firefighting vehicles and rescue equipment.

“The government shouldn’t avoid its responsibilities; rather, it should continue strengthening the Fire and Rescue Brigade while capable councils continue complementing the pending challenges,” he said.

The Kinondoni Constituency lawmaker, Mr Tarimba Abbas, CCM, said there was no way councils, which are referred to as planning authorities, could be disconnected from fire and rescue responsibilities.

Kigoma Urban lawmaker Kilumbe Ng’enda said the councils are overwhelmed by other activities such as waste collection and the construction of dispensaries and school facilities, strictly opposing the motion.