Bulawayo fire service struggles with water shortages

Despite having a well-equipped fire station and highly trained firefighters, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) says water shortages are hampering its ability to deliver quality services.

BCC Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou said the city has often faced criticism for arriving at fire scenes with insufficient water.

Speaking at a handover ceremony on Friday, where fire equipment was donated by Operation Florian, she highlighted the challenges faced by the fire department.

“Firefighting relies heavily on an effective hydrant system. While we have received water carriers through this partnership, they are not always sufficient to put out fires. We are often criticised for arriving with too little water, but no fire service can ever carry enough to fully extinguish a blaze,” she said.

Zhou expressed hope that the city’s water situation would improve to ensure hydrants remain operational.

“Bulawayo is well planned and has an adequate network of fire hydrants. However, due to water shedding, some areas have no water supply when fires break out. We have to rely on bowsers to supplement supplies, but our fleet is limited, which sometimes causes delays in delivering additional water,” she explained.

Speaking at the same event, Operation Florian’s Head of Delegation, Tony Burscough, praised BCC for improving its fire department.

He commended Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo for introducing new ideas and fostering the development of young firefighters.

“There has been a significant and positive transformation within this fire station over the past 12 months. Senior officers have retired, and there is now a forward-thinking chief fire officer. Chief Fire Officer Moyo is building a new senior management team and is committed to promoting junior personnel,” Burscough said.

“We can see real progress. Most importantly, morale has improved. A fire service cannot remain stagnant—it must evolve to meet society’s needs. Bulawayo’s fire service is moving forward, and positive changes are taking shape within the organisation’s culture. There is now a noticeable shift in attitude, with a strong focus on the future.”