MANZINI – The Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (ENFRES) celebrated a historic milestone with its first-ever female scuba diver, breaking new ground in the service.
On Thursday, a total of 10 ENFRES personnel were honoured for successfully completing a rigorous six-month programme in Scuba Diving and Basic Ambulance Assistance at the Emergency Medical Rescue College (EMRC), Sidwashini, Mbabane.
According to Chief Fire Officer Luke Lushaba, said the department continues its commitment to human resource development, enhancing its vital mission of saving lives, protecting property and delivering nationwide humanitarian services with maximum efficiency.
He said the graduation ceremony of the 10 ENFRES scuba divers marks a historic moment for the service, as it proudly includes the first-ever female scuba diver in the history of the organisation.
The chief fire officer expressed his pride in the graduates’ achievements, emphasising the profound bravery required to undertake such demanding training. “I am incredibly proud of these officers for reaching this milestone. I urge you to carry yourselves with unwavering discipline and courage whenever you are called to duty,” Lushaba said. He added that the rigorous training is only the beginning. He said they must remain in a state of constant practice. He advised them not to wait for an incident to occur to sharpen their skills, by highlighting that preparedness should be their greatest tool.
Again, the chief fire officer extended a special commendation to the first female scuba diver, praising her for breaking barriers. He said her bravery and courage while working alongside her male counterparts were exemplary. He told her that she has made history and set a new standard for the department.
It is worth noting that the ceremony was attended representatives from the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), highlighting the collaborative spirit among Eswatini’s emergency services. In that regard, Lushaba spoke passionately about the importance of national collaboration among the various security and emergency forces. He noted that while their uniforms may differ, whether they represent ENFRES, REPS, UEDF, or HMCS, their core mission remains identical. “We are all branches of the same government with a singular mission: To save lives and protect our country. Our duties should unite us, not separate us through competition. We serve as one,” Lushaba said.
According to ENFRES Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mandla Dlamini, the graduation of 10 scuba divers takes the number to 16 in the department, as they had only six from the group that graduated in 2003.
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