The Bulawayo Fire Brigade has been given the greenlight to host the second edition of the Zimbabwe Fire Safety, Rescue Conference, Expo and Games 2026, in a move expected to position the city as a national hub for emergency preparedness and rescue services.
The event, proposed for October, will bring together fire brigades, rescue teams, government departments, local authorities, emergency medical services, insurers, mining and industrial rescue teams, equipment manufacturers and development partners from Zimbabwe and the region.
Council approved the hosting proposal after receiving a submission from Ataraxia Conference Management chief executive officer Brian Dube, who said the Bulawayo Fire Brigade was ideally placed to host the national event because of its reputation for professionalism and operational excellence.
“Bulawayo City Fire Brigade, with its distinguished reputation for professionalism, operational excellence and commitment to public safety, is the ideal institution to host this prestigious national event,” Dube said.
The event will combine a technical conference, exhibition and practical competitions designed to promote professional excellence in fire and rescue services.
A major attraction will be the Zimbabwe Fire and Rescue Challenge, which will give firefighters and rescue teams an opportunity to demonstrate their operational skills while exchanging knowledge and competing in a professional environment.
The programme will also include a fire safety and rescue expo, technical conference sessions, live demonstrations and the Zimbabwe fire and rescue excellence awards.
Ataraxia said the event would be organised under a public-private partnership model, with the private organiser responsible for mobilising sponsorship, exhibitors and logistical support.
The event is running at no cost to the local authority.
“Ataraxia Conference Management's proven Public-Private Partnership model” would ensure that the organiser mobilised sponsorships, exhibition sales, exhibitors and logistics, according to Dube.
Council has identified several potential benefits for hosting the conference.
These include promoting Bulawayo as a leader in fire safety and emergency management, strengthening cooperation between the local authority and the private sector and improving the skills of its fire and ambulance service personnel.
Interaction with local and regional experts is also expected to expose city personnel to new approaches, technologies and best practices in emergency response.
The event could also help raise public awareness about fire prevention, rescue operations and emergency preparedness.
Council said the conference would provide networking opportunities between the city's emergency services and organisations involved in fire fighting rescue operations.
Dube said the conference was intended to grow beyond its inaugural edition into Zimbabwe's leading annual platform for fire safety, rescue services, emergency preparedness, innovation and professional excellence.
“We are committed to growing this initiative into Zimbabwe's premier annual platform dedicated to advancing fire safety, rescue services, emergency preparedness, innovation and professional excellence,” he said.
The event will attract participants from a wide range of sectors, including municipal fire brigades, airport fire and rescue services, mining rescue teams and industrial emergency response units.
Government ministries, local authorities, insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, emergency medical services and development partners are also expected to participate.
The inclusion of the practical rescue games gives the event an operational dimension beyond conventional conference discussions, allowing emergency responders to test their skills in competitive scenarios.
