Vusumuzi Dube
Sione Amidu, Gwanda Correspondent
MORE people were killed by veld fires last year compared to 2021 with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) putting in place measures to ensure that the figure is reduced this year.
According to statistics provided by EMA, 18 people were killed due to veld fires as compared to five that were recorded in 2021. Among the deaths were the 10 men who died while trying to put out a fire near Red Rose Mine in Esigodini.
EMA spokesperson for Matabeleland South, Mr Simon Musasiwa said the agency is rolling out a number of measures to ensure no-one is killed by veld fires in the 2023 fire season. He said a total of 1.7 million hectares of productive land was destroyed last year.
“In 2022 alone, 18 people lost their lives to veld fires, whilst property loss was in excess of millions of dollars. In terms of land 1.7 million hectares of productive land was destroyed rendering it unproductive for the 2022 farming season. Also lost to veld fires prehistorically has been property that includes harvests, domestic livestock, and wildlife in game reserves, buildings, farm equipment, vehicles and national infrastructure such as electricity poles. Worrying is the steady increase in the number of veld fires as well as the damage from these fires,” said Mr Musasiwa.
He revealed that a total of 7 511 fire incidences were recorded across the country for the year 2022 as compared to 4 074 in 2021 translating to an 82 percent increase in the number of incidences.
“Prosecution of offenders is negatively affected the unwillingness by farmers to identify and report perpetrators of this environmental offence resulting in low cases being finalised. On this end we call upon all farmers and property owners to diligently report all veld fire offenders within the prescribed seven days.
“As at 6 September 2023, over 10 000 hectares of land had been destroyed by veld fires from just 21 veld fire incidences in Matabeleland South Province. The most affected districts and hectares burnt in 2022 were Insiza (60 037 Ha), Matobo (34 088 Ha), Bulilima (25 746 Ha) and Umzingwane (22 322 Ha),” he said
Mr Musasiwa said they had noted that the major cause of veld fires has been identified as arson, which is the intentional starting of fires for poaching initiatives or to settle disputes.
“Another major cause has been identified as the lighting of roadside fires while waiting for early-morning buses. Some of the fires emanate from illegal mining activities through the continued use of metal detectors.
“Another cause has been the careless disposal of cigarette stubs as well as the improper disposal of ash at our homesteads. Land clearing as we prepare for the farming season has also been a major cause of veld fires in our farming districts. A farmer lost his life in Insiza during the 2022 fire restriction period as he tried to clear his field in preparation for the planting season,” he said.
Mr Musasiwa revealed that the agency is now rolling out a number of measures to ensure none is killed by veld fires in the 2023 fire season, inclusive of the holding of trainings and awareness campaigns.
“As part of preparations against the spread of veld fires during the 2023 season, the Agency has issued 106 fire prevention orders to farmers, land users, land owners, land occupiers and designated authorities. These trainings and campaigns are a source of information to farmers on the do’s and don’ts during the fire season.
“A cumulative of 2 114.18km of fireguards have been constructed to date protecting an estimated over 60 000 hectares of land. As a biomass reduction strategy while also generating income, over 200 000 hay bales have been produced (with Insiza district accounting for 110 000), whilst over 76 500 thatch grass bundles have been harvested and a stretch of 314,42km road servitude has been cleared to prevent road side fires,” he said.
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