Rundu without council fire truck, relies on airport unit

Rundu relies on airport unit, with own unit groundedThe Rundu Town Council is relying on a firefighting truck stationed at Rundu Airport to respond to emergencies after its only truck broke down.Council spokesperson Benjamin Makayi confirmed that the municipal fire truck is grounded due to mechanical faults and is awaiting the installation of a replacement pump in Okahandja before it can return to service."Initially we had a problem with the clutch plate and it was repaired, but now we still have a problem with the pump, and the car has to be taken to Okahandja for the fitting of the pump," Makayi said.As a temporary solution, council received permission from the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) to use its truck."The most important thing is that, yes, the car was grounded, and it's now under repair. It's going to be installed or set up, and then it will be operational again," Makayi told Namibian Sun.Although senior council officials told this publication the fire truck has allegedly been out of service for the past three years, Makayi said he could not verify the exact duration."I cannot confirm, but it's been attended to," he said.With the municipal fire truck unavailable, the NAC fire engine has become the town's primary emergency response unit."Namibia Airports Company has been assisting. Even if the truck is working, we assist each other," Makayi said.He attributed the prolonged repair process to government procurement procedures, saying sourcing specialised spare parts can be lengthy.He added that public procurement regulations prevent the council from purchasing parts in the same way a private vehicle owner would."You cannot just go into the shop and get them like your own private car," he said.He said the council intends to strengthen its firefighting capacity by acquiring an additional fire truck, but a tight budget continues to delay those plans."It is not that the council has abandoned plans to acquire an additional fire truck. The council has to prioritise other important commitments, and of course, financial constraints also play a role," he said.

Rundu without council fire truck, relies on airport unit

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-02

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Rundu without council fire truck, relies on airport unit

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-02

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