The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has commenced national stakeholder consultations on the draft Fire and Emergency Management Services bill.
Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Ministry, Gabriel Pollen, said the bill, which is the first of its kind, is an important step towards strengthening the nation’s fire and emergency services.
Dr Pollen noted that the bill is a legislative framework designed to modernise, equip and empower fire services across the country.
“With this bill, the ministry takes a pivotal step toward strengthening our nation’s fire and emergency services. This is the first comprehensive fire and emergency services bill for the country,” said Dr Pollen.
He said the bill also aims to bring fire management in Zambia to speed with the changes in the natural environment brought about by climate change and increased use of emerging technologies such as electronic batteries and solar batteries, among others.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially opened the national stakeholder consultative meeting for the Fire and Emergency Management Service Bill.
He disclosed that currently, the country does not have legislation on fire and emergency services, resulting in piecemeal interventions in the face of a growing population.
Dr Pollen added that the deterioration of fire and emergency management service provision at all levels has resulted in loss of lives and extensive damage to property.
“Our brave firefighters have operated under fragmented policies and legal frameworks, inconsistent standards, and limited resources. This draft bill seeks to change that. It is imperative that we strengthen fire and rescue services as these are the backbone of public safety,” he added.
He explained that the core pillars of the proposed fire and emergency services management legislation include standardisation of services, professionalisation and capacity building, community risk reduction, infrastructure and resource allocation, interagency coordination as well as accountability and oversight.
“Our government is committed to creating a conducive environment for business operations, marketeers, property owners and of course, firefighters,” added Dr Pollen.
Meanwhile, Superintendent – Fire Inspectorate at the Ministry of Local Government, Davy Nkomesha, said the country has for a long time operated without an established fire system, adding that fire services operations have been dependent on other pieces of legislation.
Mr Nkomesha disclosed that the ministry was last year granted authority to develop the Fire bill and a technical committee was constituted to put together a layman’s bill, so as to be able to deliver fire services as expected.
