Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
THE country has lost close to 200 000 hectares of land to more than 500 veld fire incidents recorded since the start of the fire season three weeks ago.
The country’s fire season is between July 31 and October 31.
The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) Environmental Education and Publicity manager Mrs Amkela Sidange said a veld fire management blitz is ongoing across the country with hotspot areas in Mashonaland Central, East and West as well as Manicaland provinces being targeted.
Matabeleland North and South are also high-risk areas especially around game parks, forest and safari areas and the blitz will be spreading to Matabeleland South this week, Ms Sidange said.
After the three Mashonaland provinces, Midlands comes fourth in terms of fire incidents.
Ms Sidange said Ema had served a total of 4 731 environmental protection orders to farmers and landowners before the onset of the fire season reminding them to construct fireguards around their properties to protect them from veld fires.
Ema recently urged all local authorities countrywide to formulate veld fire management plans as part of efforts to reduce fire occurrences following Cabinet approval of the 2021 Fire Season Veld Fire Management Strategy to reduce veld fires.
Ms Sidange called upon all local authorities especially in risk areas to follow good examples set by Zvimba, Hurungwe and Wedza Rural district councils in Mashonaland West which had come up with fire management plans.
“Since the onset of the blitz on the 11th of August 2021, the agency has issued 220 tickets with farmers paying between $30 000 and $50 000, and opened 23 dockets, both for failure to put in place standard fireguards and for starting fires that caused extensive damage to the environment and property. The country has recorded a total of 536 veld fire incidents that burnt 180 787,01 hectares of land,” said Ms Sidange.
She said lack of standard fireguards remains the major challenge in many areas and warned motorists against throwing cigarette stubs to the side of the road.
Ema works with other stakeholders such as Agritex, Forestry Commission, police, local authorities and other partners in educating people on the dangers of starting veld fires.
Ms Sidange said the major thrust of the national operation is precisely on law enforcement which includes veld fire investigations and prosecution as well as checking on compliance to the fire guard construction.
Farmers and landowners are reminded that fireguards are not only a legal requirement but a basic tool in veld fire management meant to protect the environment, property and life.
“The agency is calling upon the public to assist in veld fire investigations as often people are reluctant to share critical information that can help identify offenders and allow for prosecution.
“Ema is also carrying out continuous education and awareness campaigns especially targeting travelling publics along highways at roadblocks to encourage motorists to use ash trays in their cars to place cigar stubs,” said Ms Sidange.
She said 801 motorists had been engaged in the awareness campaign along the Harare-Bindura, Harare-Kariba roads.
Ema is also concerned about people who make fire at bus stops along highways as they wait for transport and in most cases, people don’t put out the fire when they leave.
In some districts that have been covered by the blitz, compliance in fireguard construction remains low at 5,6 percent.
Veld fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility and as such all citizens should play a part. — @ncubeleon
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