By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
ZIMPLATS has swept the top three positions at the 2026 National Industrial Fire Control Association (NIFCA) Firefighters Competition, which concluded at Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge on Friday.
Twenty-one teams took part in the highly competitive firefighting championships, which brought together industrial firefighters to showcase their skills, discipline, teamwork and emergency response capabilities.
Zimplats Shared Services Processing emerged as the overall winner, followed by Zimplats Smelter in second position, while Zimplats Shared Services Mining settled for third place.
The Municipality of Beitbridge hosted the competition, with Mayor Peter Pirato Mafuta saying the town takes pride in hosting initiatives of such magnitude.
“We take pride in hosting initiatives of this magnitude. These competitions are important because they bring together firefighters from different organisations, allowing them to share skills, demonstrate their preparedness and strengthen emergency response,” he said.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, Zimplats Shared Services Processing Team Commander Wonder Levy, who also scooped the Overall Best Commander award, expressed excitement over the victory.
Levy attributed the achievement to dedication, hard work and teamwork.
“We are very excited about this achievement. It was not an easy competition, but through dedication, hard work and teamwork, we managed to come out on top. I would like to encourage fellow firefighters to continue training, remain committed and always be ready to respond when called upon,” he said
He also thanked the organisers for providing firefighters with a platform to test and improve their skills.
Among the notable performances by the overall winning team, Zimplats Shared Services Processing finished third in the Fire Extinguisher Drill and claimed first position in the Squad Drill.
NIFCA Chairperson Farai Matambo said competition among the participating teams was stiff, with firefighters demonstrating high levels of preparedness throughout the championships.
“The competition was stiff, but we are glad that we have managed to come to the conclusion of these competitions. We congratulate the winners and all the participating teams for making the event a success,” he said.
He also applauded the Municipality of Beitbridge for hosting the championships and creating a platform for firefighters to demonstrate their capabilities.
The competition provided an opportunity for industrial firefighters to test their technical skills, coordination, discipline and ability to respond effectively to fire emergencies.
With the championships now concluded, organisers and stakeholders expect the skills demonstrated during the event to benefit local firefighters, industries and the wider Beitbridge community through improved fire preparedness and emergency response.
For Beitbridge, hosting the 2026 NIFCA competition placed the border town at the centre of a national platform focused on strengthening fire safety and preparedness.