RABECCA BANDA writes
RESIDENTS of Chilenje Township and surrounding areas are concerned about the stalled works at the community fire station site.
One Chilenje resident, Enoch Mwepu described the pace of construction as slow and discouraging saying that the situation placed the lives of most people and property at risk of getting destroyed by fire because of limited response by the Lusaka Central Fire station.
Mulenga Mulenga, a trader at Chilenje’s Chifundo Market, said the delay in completing the fire station was particularly worrying considering the fact that the market was gutted by fire before.
“We are alarmed by the fires. We still live in fear of losing our lives or our shops burning down and losing our investment due to limited fire response,” Mulenga said.
Ken Bwalya, a businessman from Chalala area said completion of the fire station would enable adequate response to fire and prevent loss of goods and assets.
“We need our own fire station here because most of the time the main fire station fighters arrive at the scene late and without enough water,” Bwalya said.
In 2014, the Lusaka City Council under the Ministry of Local Government, embarked on a project of constructing three community fire stations an initiative aimed at hastening the response to fire incidences. The community fire stations include Chilenje, Chelstone and Matero Fire Stations.