By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE National Industrial Fire and Civil Protection Association (NIFCA) executive board toured the Beitbridge Border Post on Tuesday to assess the facility’s preparedness to respond to fire emergencies.
The visit came ahead of the annual firefighter competitions set to take place in Beitbridge from September 23 to 25, 2026.
The competitions will be held under the theme “From Prevention to Response: Creating Safer Industries and Communities.”
The competition will bring together 22 firefighting teams from leading industries and mining companies.
During the tour, the board was briefed on the fire prevention and response measures in place at the border facility.
Zimborders has two 2,000-litre tanks containing foam and water reserved for firefighting operations.
The company has also trained 15 firefighters, comprising five staff members from government stakeholders, five from the consortium and five Zimborders staff.
The tour highlighted the need for the organisation to continue expanding its firefighting training programme to cover more staff.
NIFCA Chairperson Farai Matambo said the tour provided an opportunity for the association to understand the fire management systems at the facility and engage with Zimborders management on lessons from previous incidents.
“We decided to tour Zimborders, you know, just to also learn in terms of the firefighting systems that they have and what they have done to manage fire in their own way,” Matambo said.
He said discussions with the Zimborders general manager also provided insight into incidents that occurred before the development of the current facility.
“It is now about getting the fire teams to the level that is required to be prepared to address any fire issues that could happen, so that we prevent that from happening,” he said.
Zimborders General Manager Nqobile Ncube said the organisation experienced major fires during the pre-development phase, including the loss of three warehouses, prompting the company to establish a robust fire management structure.
“We’ve lost about three warehouses in the pre-development phase, and this is why the organisation also place emphasis on a robust fire management structure,” Ncube said.
The company remained committed to learning from other stakeholders because fire emergencies could occur regardless of the level of preparedness, he said.
“We are still keen to continue learning and hearing from you because fire scenarios can happen at any time, irrespective of how well prepared you are,” he said.
Ncube also emphasised the importance of having trained personnel who can respond appropriately during an emergency, saying preparedness was not only about having firefighting equipment, but also knowing how to use it effectively and at the right time.
He welcomed NIFCA’s involvement, saying the presence of the organisation in Beitbridge would contribute to improved safety awareness and emergency preparedness.
Ncube also highlighted the importance of cooperation with the local authority, saying the town council plays a critical role in responding to emergencies and safeguarding the wider community.
“We have had challenges, which have not been nice, but post-NIFCA and with all that we have seen, there have been great improvements, and I think we can continue building on those for even better,” he said.
Speaking during the tour, Raubex Infra Stakeholder Affairs Manager Shingirai Mudzamiri said stakeholders in Beitbridge were confident in their collective ability to respond to emergencies.
“As Beitbridge stakeholders, right now we are comfortable to say that as stakeholders we are prepared and hands-on deck to ensure that Beitbridge remains an accident-free zone,” Mudzamiri said.