Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says the country is now on high alert as the veldfire restriction season that runs from 31 July to 30 November this year begins.
During this dry timeframe, lighting fires outside residential and commercial premises is strictly prohibited by law.
Usually, starting fires outside, burning trash in the open, or clearing land with fire is banned.
According to EMA’s 2026 Fire Risk Prediction Model statistics as of July 30, 2026 show a sharp increase in fires compared to last year.
“A total of 41,972.95 hectares were burnt in 2026 compared to 186,979 hectares in the same period in 2025.
However, the number of incidents has nearly doubled — 627 incidents reported in 2026 against 303 in 2025,” said the agency in a latest update.
It noted that most of the area burnt was due to land preparation using fire and block burning in protected areas and farming areas, as people rushed to open fireguards ahead of the restriction period.
Tragically, one person, a 77-year-old woman in Masvingo, has died during land preparation activities.
EMA has classified Mashonaland East and Manicaland as areas of extreme risk. Mashonaland Province and parts of Matabeleland South are listed as high risk.
“To curb the spread, 3,739.03km of fireguards have been done in 2026, protecting 402,202.1 hectares. In addition, 2,781.5km of fireguard road servitudes have been cleared countrywide, while 1,775 beehives have also been distributed nationally as an alternative livelihood to reduce reliance on fire,” said the agency.
In most cases, landowners must build wide fireguards (at least 9 meters) and clear dry plant matter, and EMA says law enforcement will be stepped up during the restriction period this year.
The agency has reported that during the 2025 period, no tickets were issued and that so far in 2026, 17 tickets have been issued and 1,901 orders have been served in 2026 compared to 704 in 2025.
“Veldfire prevention is a collective effort. The agency is calling on ZRP, Forestry Commission, ZimParks, AGRITEX, Local Authorities, and Traditional Leaders through their courts to be on high alert,” said EMA.
It also reported that 2,103,463 hay bales and 1,018,178 grass bales have been harvested in 2026, protecting a total of 151,748.6 hectares.
The grass is being used to feed livestock and to reduce veld fuel while urging the public to play their part to monitor, educate, and report fires.
