MBABANE – The Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (ENFRES) had difficulty to contain and manage fires in two major incidents: the burning of Bhunu Mall and Tesco Cash and Carry in Matsapha.
The reason fire officers were forced to helplessly watch these multi-million Emalangeni facilities burn to the ground was due to a lack of appropriate equipment and resources to respond effectively to these emergencies.
Despite having over E5 million at their disposal, the department engaged in what many have labelled as unnecessary spending, purchasing equipment considered irrelevant to the operational needs of the country’s 10 fire stations.
The department, under the leadership of Luke Lushaba, spent taxpayers’ money on non-priority items.
These are –
- A high-end boat.
- Two luxurious camping caravans.
- Four ambulances (not directly addressing the fundamental firefighting deficiencies for the department as recently exposed during the two devastating incidents mentioned above).
Adding fuel to the controversy is the department’s chosen supplier, a training institution rather than a specialist supplier. This is not to suggest that the Mbabane-based Emergency Medical Rescue College (EMRC)’s licence confines it to offering education to students.
However, it is uncommon for public and private colleges to participate in the country’s procurement for goods.
EMRC was also offered a contract to train the fire personnel for ENFRES. It must be said that the fire department is under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The contract is reportedly worth over E5 million and it entails the supply of goods and services.
Investigations by this newspaper have revealed pockets of disgruntlement and murmuring within the department as certain firemen and senior officers question the manner in which the contract was awarded.
The purchase order is handwritten, yet they are usually computer-generated. It reflects a stamp from the Central Transport Administration (CTA) and it is dated January 9, 2024.
According to documents seen by the Times SUNDAY, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, through the ENFRES, also contracted EMRC to provide firefighting and rescue equipment, as well as specialised vehicles.
It has been established that the emergency items, which include two caravans and a boat, were reportedly delivered without adherence to standard procurement protocols. This is because some of the delivered items do not appear in the order, but were confirmed to have been supplied through the same contract.
The handwritten order has become the central exhibit in what insiders are calling a glaring case of a highly questionable procurement process in the public service.
It has also been learnt that the Emergency Medical Rescue College is a fully accredited institution under the Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) and its primary mandate is educational.
According to ESHEC, this college offers academic courses in emergency medical care such –
- Certificate in Basic Ambulance Assistance/
- Certificates and Diplomas in Occupational Health and Safety.
- Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety.
Although the college is duly listed among the country’s registered higher education institutions, its role as a government supplier of high-value emergency vehicles and marine equipment sits uneasily with its academic identity.
Kombis converted to ambulances
Most notably, the college also supplied four 2.7 GL Toyota kombis, which were converted into ambulances. It is said that each ambulance reportedly cost the State more than E800 000, bringing the total to over E3.2 million. An additional E800 000 was spent converting the kombis into fully operational rescue vehicles.
Full article available in our paper.
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