Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
THE Environment Management Agency (EMA) in the Midlands province is training community fire-fighting teams in a bid to combat veld fires.
This comes as the province has lost about 10 000 hectares of vegetation to veld fires with Somabhula, Chirumhanzu and Shurugwi being the hotspots.
The country is still in the fire season which officially started on July 31 and ends on November 30.
People are discouraged from starting fires during the fire season.
EMA Midlands provincial spokesperson, Mr Oswald Ndlovu said fires were now being exacerbated by farmers who are now gearing up for the 2022/23 farming season.
“Farmers are using fire for land preparation as they prepare for the farming season. We are therefore reaching out to the community together with the Forestry Commission, Zimparks, rural district councils as well as Agritex as we train fire-fighters so that in case of a fire, they help in combating it,” he said.
In Somabhula, 20 fire fighters were trained and equipped with fire beaters, sickles and pressurised water cans.
“These community trainings and meetings are meant to capacitate members of the community on fire management. We also equip them. You find that sickles can also be a source of livelihood as the community can cut thatching grass and sell it, reducing biomass in the process. In some cases, we also give beehives which is another source of livelihood as well.”
Mr Ndlovu said the community programme has also taken them to schools where they are engaging learners on fire management.
He said besides farmers, fish and wild animal poaching were also major causes of fire outbreaks.
“Those who are into poaching use fire to dry either their fish or the wild animals that they would have caught in the bush. We also have those in honey harvesting, they are also major causers hence the move to give them bee hives so that they do it in an environmentally friendly manner,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu urged members of the community to avoid starting fires as the fire season is yet to lapse.
Online Reporter