By SYLVESTER MWALE
and PASSY HAACHIZO –
FIRE brigade services in Zambia have existed for more than 60 years, yet women have been in the shadows of the profession whose core function is to respond to emergencies.
Despite heightened gender activism there is little sign that women are stepping up to take up the challenge of being a fire fighter like it has been in police service or the army.
Perhaps this could be linked to the initial setup of the fire services in Zambia which was apparently discriminatory against women.
No provision was made for women in fire services such that those who tried to join were treated with derision and contempt.
For instance, the fire brigade services in Zambia started in 1953 but the first female only joined in 1980 until now, there has never been a woman who has commanded a fire brigade in all the country’s 42 brigades.
However, Veronica Kunda is a rare personality in a field that has presented austerity from training to employment.
Ms Kunda became the first female to join the fire service in 1980 and today she is the only female who has risen to a higher rank than any other woman in the fire field.
The Times of Zambia caught up with Ms Kunda recently where she shared her account of the story and how women have been left in the periphery of the fire fighting services.
Needless to mention that her current position of Sub Division Fire Officer which is third after Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief Fire Officer, makes her the first and only woman in Zambia to hold such a rank.
But why has it been like this when the Zambia Army, Zambia Police Service and other security wings have witnessed the rise of women to higher ranks of decision making?
“This profession is perceived to be risky for women because there isan assumption that women are weak and cannot manage to quench fire,”
Ms Kunda explains adding, “But this is just an assumption because I have done much work at times than men in as far as fire fighting is concerned”.
The 58-year-old mother of four, two boys and two girls, has sailed with all the determination and tenacity, trampling on all the obstacles to reach where she is today.
Her humble background had placed her drive and made her sail over challenges thrown to her by some negativity that surround her during the execution of her work.
She is the daughter of Jessy Kalunga Kunda and Mathews Kunda but was brought up by her grandmother, Jessy Kunda senior in Luanshya’s Mikomfwa Township.
She is married to Edward Simunyola.
“I was enrolled in Sub “A” at Mikomfwa Primary School where I spent all my lower grades and went to Luanshya Secondary School up to form three,” she explained.
She attempted to write form three examination but failed before she decided to do away with school and look for a job.
By then, her dream was to become a soldier, and even with her moderate education she had acquired, she knew she would be able to achieve her ambition.
Ms Kunda has been inspired by her grandmother’s teachings which instilled confidence and ambition in everything she did.
She left Luanshya for Kabwe in 1977 to stay with her aunt, but her main goal was to find an opportunity to become a soldier because at that time, Kabwe was the only entry point into the Zambia Army.
“When I came to Kabwe, my cousin who was a soldier at Chindwin Barrack told me that I had to be a guard at the same institution as the only get way to become a soldier,” she said.
But despite being a sentry in the barrack for nine months which was a pre-condition for one to get into the army, Ms Kunda had to face the harsh reality of being rejected.
She went on to join the Kabwe Council Police before later joining the fire brigade to become the first woman in a male dominated field.
Her entry was hardly easy, more so that the fire fighting service was a preserve of men who were considered brave and strong than women.
“It was not easy because at first and second attempt they refused my application until I applied to the Town Clerk attaching the first and second letters of regret,” she explained, “This prompted an emergency council meeting and I was called for interviews as the only woman among 30 men. I attended oral and practical interviews but then there was one and most tough interview where we were asked to climb a hook ladder”.
The first four men ahead of her tried and failed to climb and her turn had attracted a lot of interest from council officials who were watching in anticipation of another flop.
“But everyone watched in disbelief because I used my military tactics I had acquired to climb with ease and that’s how I passed the interviews,” she said.
Ms Kunda was in 1981 taken to a fire training service school up to 1987 amid disapproval from some officials who did not see it fit to have a woman as a fire fighter.
Additionally, criticisms were not the only challenge she had to contend with but that the National Fire Training School had no provisions for female students and it has remained so up to now.
This further subjected Ms Kunda to ridicule and frustration although that did not divert her ambitions to be part of the vocation of serving lives.
The rise to her current position demonstrates her determination to convince the womenfolk in Zambia that fire fighting is not a preserve of men alone.
She retired in 2013 as Sub Fire Officer but was retained on contract as Division Fire Officer-in-Charge in Kapiri-Mposhi District where she is currently serving.
Many have described her as a great woman who is determined to inspire more women into professionals that have been dominated by men.
“She is a diligent woman who is never relaxed in executing her duties during her tour of duty,” said Central Province Police Chief Lombe Kamukoshi.
Zambia National Service Training School (ZNSTS) Commandant Yonah Mwale said he has been inspired to work hard by the works of Ms Kunda.
“She is the one who oriented me to the practical part of the job, you know this career is a dangerous one because most people run away upon joining but because of her guidance I am a commandant today,” he said.
Commandant Mwale said management was still contemplating on giving Ms Kunda another job at the ZNSTS because there were a few individuals that had expertise like hers.
Ms Kunda’s work has been recognised at various levels and apart from being offered a contract, she has won various individual awards for her hard work.
She received her first award in 1985 for her dedication to duty before being awarded for hard work in 2007 at the ZNSTS as well as the most hard-working employee in 2011.
She was also honoured in 2012 for being the longest serving female fire fighter. Ms Kunda offers an inspiration not only to women in Zambia but also to policy makers on the need to take practical steps in incorporating women in professionals that are predominantly reserved for men.